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THE  REVOLUTION  ON  THE  UPPER 

OHIO,  1775-1777 


DRAPER  SERIES ,  VOLUME  II 


THE  REVOLUTION 

ON  THE 

Upper  Ohio,  1775-1777 

Compiled  from  the  Draper  Manuscripts  in  the 
Library  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Society 
and  published  at  the  charge  of  the  Wisconsin 
Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution 

'  t  1  v  I  l  h  (  |  v 

EDITED  BY 

REUBEN  GOLD  TH  WAITES,  LL.  D. 

Secretary  of  the  Society 
AND 

LOUISE  PHELPS  KELLOGG,  PH.D. 

Editorial  Assistant  on  the  Society’s  Staff 


MADISON 

Wisconsin  Historical  Society 

1908 


413- 

T  4 


Copyright,  1908 

By  the  State  Historical  Society  of  Wisconsin 


Published  February,  1908 

Twelve  Hundred  Copies 


MADISON 

Democrat  Printing  Company 


f- 

\Jv 

l 

ii 


CONTENTS 


tP 

o» 

J1 


Introduction.  77t?  Editors 
Explanation 


Concord 


Documents 

Movement  to  Kentucky;  Frontier  Forts 

Letter  for  Cornstalk 

Orders  for  the  Militia 

Virginia  hears  of  Lexington  and 

Garrison  at  Point  Pleasant 

^  Affairs  at  Fort  Pitt 

Virginia  arms 

Treaty  at  Pittsburgh,  1775  . 

British  Report  of  Treaty  . 

Connolly’s  Plot 

the  Frontiers,  early  in  1776 

A  Captain’s  Commission  . 

Information  regarding  Detroit 

Indians  visit  Niagara 

Alarm  in  Kentucky 

^  Protection  for  the  Frontier 
* 

Garrison  for  Point  Pleasant;  Indian  Affairs 
Conference  at  Fort  Pitt 
Report  from  Niagara;  neutrality 
Frontiers  of  Virginia 
News  from  Fort  Randolph 
Indian  depredations 
Threatened  hostilities 


o 


4 

o 

p 

Q 

O 

a 

o 


o  be  maintained 


Page 


IX 

xx 


188,  205, 
190, 


1 

7 

8 
10 
12 

1 7 
21 

25 

127  f 
1 36T 
143  - 
145 
147 
I5i 
153 
155 

158 

159 

171 

172 

185 

209,  249 
218,  245 


i 1280 6 


vi 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Forts  on  the  Ohio  ......  195 

Reinforcements  ordered  .....  196 

Disposition  of  the  Indian  Tribes  ....  199 

Fort  Randolph  re-inforced  .  .  204,  209,  239 

News  from  Williamsburgh  ....  214 

Treaty  of  1776  ......  216 

Situation  at  Grave  Creek  .  .  .  .  .  224 

Supplies  from  New  Orleans  ....  226 

Militia  arrangements  .....  229 

Pluggy’s  Town  Expedition  ordered  .  .  .  236 

Situation  at  Wheeling  .....  242 

Allies  to  be  protected  .....  244 

Pluggy’s  Town  Expedition  abandoned  .  .  .  247 

Return  of  Military  Stores  at  Fort  Pitt  .  .  .  258 

Index  .......  259 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 


Map  from  Crevecoeur’s  Lettres  d’un  Cultivateur  Ameri- 
cain  (Paris,  1787),  consisting  of  sketch-maps  of  the 
Muskingum,  Scioto,  and  Big  Beaver  rivers  Frontispiece 
Portrait  of  George  Morgan  (silhouette)  .  .  .  30 

Portrait  of  Peyton  Randolph  .  .  .  .66 

Portrait  of  Lewis  Morris  .  .  .  .  .  76 

Portrait  of  James  Wilson  .  .  .  .  .90 

Portrait  of  Gov.  Henry  Hamilton  ....  128 

Portrait  of  Governor  Blacksnake,  Seneca  chief  .  .  160 

Portrait  of  Gyantwahchia(or  John  Abeel,  John  the  Corn- 

planter),  Shawnee  chief  ....  162 

Portrait  of  Red  Jacket,  Seneca  chief  .  .  .  164 

Portrait  of  Gov.  Patrick  Henry  ....  232 


INTRODUCTION 


In  May,  1905,  the  Society  published  from  the 
Draper  Manuscript  Collection  in  its  possession,  a 
Documentary  History  of  Dunmore s  War f  1774 . 
While  the  material  was  selected,  annotated,  and  put 
through  the  press  by  the  pr^ent  Editors,  the  bill  for 
printing  was  generously  met  by  the  Wisconsin  Society 
of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.  The  latter 
organization  kindly  offered  to  pay  for  the  printing  of  a 
second  Draper  volume,  edited  at  the  cost  of  the  Soci¬ 
ety,  to  be  in  due  course  succeeded,  the  hope  was  ex¬ 
pressed,  by  a  third  and  possibly  others.  This  proposi¬ 
tion  being  accepted  it  was  determined  to  follow  D\un- 
mores  War  with  two  volumes,  both  bearing  upon  the 
conduct  of  the  Revolutionary  War  on  the  Upper  Ohio 
River.  The  present  is  the  first  of  these. 

We  were  led  to  this  selection  from  the  Wisconsin 
Historical  Society’s  abundant  store  of  manuscript 
sources,  by  considerations  of  logical  sequence.  The 
events  herein  chronicled  immediately  succeeded  and 
in  considerable  degree  were  the  direct  outgrowth  of 
Dunmore’s  War.  In  a  sense  the  district  involved  was 
much  the  same  as  that  affected  by  his  lordship’s  opera¬ 
tions  ;  the  military  leaders  were  in  many  cases  those 
who  had  served  in  the  expedition  of  1774;  the  rank 
and  file  was  composed  of  the  like  race  of  fearless,  in- 


X 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


dependent  frontiersmen,  who  fretted  at  martial  dis¬ 
cipline  and  democratized  the  militia  which  had  been 
organized  for  the  defense  of  their  homes  against  the 
aborigines. 

The  documents  chosen  for  publication  herein  do  not 
afford  a  continuous  history  of  any  one  campaign  or 
group  of  men.  They  do,  however,  shed  light  upon 
the  principal  incidents  and  the  prominent  characters 
of  the  long  frontier  stretching  from  the  Greenbrier 
region  in  southwestern  Virginia  to  the  post  at  Kit-«^ 
tanning  on  the  Upper  Allegheny.  The  time  is  the 
first  two  years  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle — March, 
1775,  to  May,  1777,  inclusive — and  deals  with  the  de¬ 
fense  of  the  border  while  still  in  the  hands  of  the 
militia  of  the  Western  counties.  The  coming  to  Fort 
Pitt,  June  1,  1777,  of  an  officer  of  Continental  rank, 
sent  by  Congress  to  take  command  of  the  West, 
marked  an  epoch  in  the  military  history  of  the  region. 

It  is  with  the  advent  of  General  Hand  that  our  ini¬ 
tial  volume  closes.  This  earlier  history  of  the  Revolu¬ 
tion  in  the  trans-Alleghany  region  has  been  but  little 
known  or  understood.  Comparatively  few  documents 
concerning  it  have  thus  far  been  published ;  secondary 
accounts  in  general  dismiss  the  subject  with  a  hasty 
paragraph.  It  is  hoped  that  the  present  publication 
of  contemporary  material  will  lead  to  a  more  con¬ 
siderate  treatment  of  what  we  believe  to  be  an  inter¬ 
esting  and  significant  period. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  readers  of  the  preceding 
volume,  that  when  Lord  Dunmore  left  the  frontier 
in  the  autumn  of  1774,  bearing  with  him  the  Shawnee 
hostages,  he  embodied  a  small  garrison  at  Fort  Dun- 


INTRODUCTION 


xi 


more,  and  another  at  Fort  Blair  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Kanawha.  fThey  were  the  only  fortifications  up¬ 
on  the  frontier  at  the  beginning  of  1775.)  When  the 
governor  found  himself  involved  in  quarrels  with  the 
colonists,  one  of  his  last  executive  acts  was  to  order 
the  evacuation  of  these  posts.  The  colonists  there¬ 
upon  quickly  seized  the  first,  which  reverted  to  its 
earlier  name  of  Pitt;  Fort  Blair  was  actually  evacu¬ 
ated,  and  its  buildings  burned  by  lurking  Indians  dur¬ 
ing  the  summer  of  1775. 

The  attitude  of  the  Indians  towards  the  colonial 
cause  was  of  vital  importance  to  the  Western  bor¬ 
derers.  Lord  Dunmore’s  treaty  of  the  previous  autumn 
had  been  but  provisional.  The  Shawnee  hostages 
were  still  in  his  hands ;  the  Mingo  prisoners  were  in 
confinement  at  Fort  Pitt;  his  lordship  had  promised 
the  Indians  to  come  to  Fort  Pitt  in  the  spring  and 
arrange  a  permanent  peace.  Meanwhile  his  agent 
upon  the  frontier,  Dr.  John  Connolly,  was  a  professed 
Loyalist.  Connolly  dismissed  the  imprisoned  Mingo 
to  their  homes,  with  messages  urging  their  people  to 
rely  upon  the  English  king,  their  father,  and  to  come 
to  Fort  Pitt  to  treat  with  him  as  the  representative  of 
the  governor.  In  his  Narrative ,  Connolly  asserts  that 
it  was  his  “first  work  to  convene  the  Indians  to  a 
treaty,  restore  the  prisoners,  and  endeavour  to  incline 
them  to  espouse  the  royal  cause.”1 

Meanwhile  the  people  of  West  Augusta  district  had 
formed  a  committee  of  safety.  This  met  at  Pitts¬ 
burgh  early  in  May,  and  drafted  a  petition  to  Con- 

1  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History  and  Biography,  xii. 
P-  314. 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


xn 


gress  setting  forth  their  fear  of  a  rupture  with  the 
Indians  on  account  of  Lord  Dunmore’s  conduct.2  The 
matter  was  referred  to  the  delegates  from  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania,  the  former  of  whom  took  cogniz¬ 
ance  thereof  in  their  state  assembly,  which  appointed 
commissioners  to  meet  the  tribesmen  and  endeavor 
to  complete  the  peace  in  favor  of  the  colonies.  Later, 
Congress  appointed  a  like  commission,  and  the  two 
met  jointly  at  Pittsburgh  in  September. 

Rumors  of  the  Revolutionary  conflict  had  by  early 
summer  reached  the  Indian  towns,  resulting  in  much 
confusion  and  misunderstanding  among  the  aborigines. 
Upon  one  occasion  Lord  Dunmore  had  employed  the 
Shawnee  hostages  with  him  as  a  personal  guard 
against  colonial  violence.  They  not  unnaturally, 
therefore,  fancied  themselves  likewise  hated  by  the 
‘'Long  Knives,”  and  destined  to  fall  victims  to  the 
enmity  of  the  latter.  Similar  suspicions  were  excited 
in  the  Indian  villages  by  Loyalist  traders,  and  the 
king’s  Indian  agents  were  already  gathering  the 
Northern  tribes  to>  resist  the  proposed  American  in¬ 
vasion  of  Canada. 

Whether  British  or  Americans  were  first  to  enroll 
the  tribesmen  in  their  armies  is  even  now  a  mooted 
question.  There  were  differences  in  the  situation 
The  slight  aid  that  the  Americans  might  receive  from 
Indian  warriors  enlisted  in  their  interest,  was  far  out¬ 
weighed  by  the  danger  of  retaliatory  attacks  to  which 
they  thereby  exposed  their  long  and  weak  frontier. 

*  Obviously,  their  safest  policy  was  to  secure  native 


2  Journals  of  Continental  Congress  (new  ed.),  ii,  p.  76 


INTRODUCTION 


xiii 

neutrality.  To  the  British,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
employment  of  barbarian  allies  had  long  been  cus¬ 
tomary  in  colonial  wars.  Their  incursions  would 
create  a  needed  diversion  upon  the  frontier.  As  early 
as  1775,  secret  orders  were  received  from  the  minis¬ 
try,  not  only  to  enlist  the  sympathies  of  the  tribes¬ 
men,  but  actually  to  enroll  them  in  the  royal  armies.3 

On  the  Western  border,  the  Americans  were 
prompt.  Connolly's  earlier  treaty  had  had  the  effect 
somewhat  to  allay  the  fears  of  the  warriors.  The 
influence  of  a  Frenchman  in  the  British  interest,  sent 
from  Detroit  to  the  Indian  villages  with  belts  of 
wampum,  was  quickly  counteracted  by  that  of  the 
Virginia  envoy,  Capt.  James  Wood.  In  September, 
1775,  there  gathered  at  Pittsburgh  the  largest  Indian 
delegation  ever  seen  at  this  frontier  fort — Ottawa  and 
Wyandot  from  the  neighborhood  of  Detroit;  Mingo, 
Shawnee,  and  Delawares  from  the  Ohio  valley ; 
Seneca  from  the  Upper  Allegheny.  All  united  in  a 
pledge  of  peace,  friendship,  and  neutrality  with  the 
new  American  nation. 

The  importance  of  these  early  negotiations  can 
hardly  be  overestimated.  Not  only  was  thereby  set 
free  from  both  the  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  fron¬ 
tiers,  a  body  of  competent  riflemen  who  hastened  east¬ 
ward  to  swell  the  Continental  army;  but  the  way  was 
opened  for  Kentucky  settlement,  which  involved  the 
general  occupation  of  Western  territory,  and  ulti¬ 
mately  the  settlement  of  the  Western  boundary  at  the 
Treaty  of  Paris.  Had  the  Pittsburgh  treaty  proved 


3  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series,  iii,  p.  6;  New  York  Historical 
Society  Proceedings,  1845,  p.  167. 


XIV 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


unsuccessful,  the  entire  trans-Alleghany  region  must 
surely  have  been  evacuated,  George  Rogers  Clark’s 
expeditions  against  Kaskaskia  and  Vincennes  could 
hardly  have  occurred,  and  the  West  might  easily  have 
reverted  to  aboriginal  occupation,  and  become  a  re¬ 
serve  for  the  British  fur-trade. 

Another  secret  danger  averted  by  the  vigilance  of 
the  colonial  authorities,  was  that  known  as  “Con¬ 
nolly’s  Plot.”  This  was  a  scheme  not  entirely  im¬ 
practicable;  with  the  aid  of  troops  from  Canada  and 
the  contingents  already  stationed  at  Niagara,  Detroit, 
and  the  Illinois,  it  would  not  have  been  difficult  to 
capture  the  militia  garrison  at  Fort  Pitt  and  force  a 
passage  into  the  heart  of  Virginia,  before  an  invasion 
from  that  quarter  was  suspected.  The  arrest  of 
Connolly  and  his  agents,  in  the  autumn  of  1775,  not 
only  checked  this  enterprise,  but  led  to  the  evacua¬ 
tion  of  the  Illinois  by  British  military  forces,  and  their 
concentration  at  Detroit. 

Aside  from  the  machinations  of  both  Indians  and 
Royalists,  the  American  commandant  at  Pittsburgh 
had  reason  to  fear  an  invasion  from  the  British  fort 
at  Niagara.  Here  the  attitude  of  the  Allegheny 
Seneca  stood  the  colonists  in  good  stead.  While  not 
averse  to  negotiating  with  their  British  father  at 
Niagara,  they  announced  to  both  contestants  that  the 
passage  of  an  army  from  either  side  through  their 
territory  would  be  regarded  as  an  act  of  war,  to  be 
stoutly  opposed  by  the  confederated  Iroquois.  This 
no  doubt  saved  Fort  Pitt  from  a  siege  similar  to  that 
sustained  by  Fort  Stanwix  in  1777. 

The  frontier  has  ever  been  a  region  of  daring  ad- 


INTRODUCTION 


xv 


venture  and  picturesque  achievement.  One  exploit 
worthy  of  a  place  among  the  hero  tales  of  American 
history,  had  its  origin  on  the  Upper  Ohio  during  the 
early  Revolutionary  years.  The  chief  need  of  the 
rebellious  colonists  was  gunpowder.  The  English 
commandant  at  Niagara  told  the  Indian  tribesmen 
that  the  colonists  would  soon  be  beaten,  since  they 
had  no  powder  and  could  no  longer  secure  any  from 
the  mother  country.  Urged  by  this  necessity,  young 
Capt.  George  Gibson  of  the  Virginia  line,  who  had 
formerlv  beerU a  trader  on  the  lower  reaches  of  the 

J 

Ohio,  conceived  the  project  of  securing  a  supply 
from  the  Spanish  authorities  at  New  Orleans,  and 
transporting  it  up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  to 
Fort  Pitt.  The  Virginia  authorities  sanctioned  the 
scheme.  Choosing  as  his  co-operator  another  noted 
frontier  officer,  Lieut.  William  Linn,  the  two  set  forth 
in  a  skiff,  under  the  guise  of  Indian  traders,  and  after 
a  perilous  journey  arrived  at  their  destination.  At 
New  Orleans,  fresh  difficulties  awaited  them.  Governor 
Galvez,  although  favorable  to  the  Americans,  was 
disinclined  to  break  with  the  British  consul,  who  sus¬ 
pected  the  strangers,  and  inveighed  against  their  pres¬ 
ence.  By  a  private  undestanding,  therefore,  Gibson 
was  thrown  into  prison,  and  at  once  all  British  sus¬ 
picions  were  lulled. 

Meanwhile  Oliver  JPollock,  an  American  sympa¬ 
thizer  residing  at  New  Orleans,  aided  Linn  to  secure 
the  coveted  powder  from  the  Spanish  authorities.  With 
forty-three  men  in  several  barges  the  latter  left  New 
Orleans  September  22nd,  with  a  cargo  of  ninety-eight 
barrels  (over  9,000  pounds)  of  the  precious  explosive. 


XVI 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


After  severe  hardships,  and  much  suffering  from  ill¬ 
ness  and  lack  of  provisions,  the  expedition  reached 
Arkansas  Post  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  November,  be¬ 
ing  received  with  marked  kindness  and  courtesy  by 
the  Spanish  commandant.4  There  the  adventur¬ 
ers  passed  the  winter  hunting,  and  curing  meat  for 
the  spring  advance. 

Gibson,  now  released  from  confinement,  returned 
to  Virginia  by  sea,  carrying  news  of  his  successful 
undertaking.  Orders  were  sent  out  by  the  Virginia 
authorities  to<  hasten  a  detachment  to  the  aid  of  Linn, 
but  that  officer  was  beforehand  with  his  plans.  By 
the  third  of  March  he  had  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Ohio,  where  an  American  from  Kaskaskia  met  him 
with  provisions.  The  Spanish  at  St.  Louis,  not  so 
friendly  as  their  colleagues  farther  south,  sent  a  band 
of  Indians  to  intercept  the  party  at  the  Falls  of  the 
Ohio  (Louisville)  ;  but  before  the  arrival  of  the  sav¬ 
ages  the  little  company  had  already  passed,  and  by  the 
first  of  May  safely  landed  the  valuable  cargo  at 
Wheeljxig.  For  brilliancy  of  conception,  cool  daring, 
and  successful  accomplishment,  this  exploit  deserves 
high  rank  among  the  minor  achievements  of  that  he¬ 
roic  time. 

During  the  year  1776  the  rigorous  work  of  defense 
went  forward.  The  line  of  forts  was  extended,  the 
militia  enrolled  and  drilled,  and  scouting  parties  main- 
tirained  both  in  the  interior  and  along  the  Ohio  bound- 
ary-  In  the  autumn,  while  Congressional  commis- 

4  Letter  of  Linn  to  Pollock,  dated  “Arkansaws,  Novr.  30, 
1 776,”  Draper  MSS.,  60J277. 


INTRODUCTION 


XVII 


sioners  were  conducting  negotiations  at  Pittsburgh,  a 
general  alarm  was  sounded.  A  number  of  men  were 
killed  and  scalped  along  the  border,  families  hastily 
moved  in  from  outlying  settlements,  or  “forted”  in 
their  neighborhood,  and  consternation  prevailed.  In 
Kentucky,  a  party  carrying  gunpowder  to  the  forts 
was  attacked,  several  killed,  and  the  rest  scattered, 
and  all  but  three  of  the  posts  in  that  district  were 
abandoned. 

Most  of  these  breaches  of  the  treaty  signed  by  the 
Indians  in  1775  were  the  work  of  a  small  body  of  ir- 
reconcilables,  known  as  Pluggy’s  Band.  An  expedi¬ 
tion  to  invade  their  territory  and  burn  the  village  was 
called  out  by  Congress,  and  only  abandoned  through 
fear  of  thereby  inciting  a  general  Indian  war.  The  win¬ 
ter  of  1776-77  was  an  anxious  one,  and  with  the  open¬ 
ing  of  the  season  of  1777  advices  made  it  certain  that 
the  border  would  be  harried  by  tribesmen  under  British 
influence.  A  call  was  thereupon  made  for  a  unified 
national  defense,  and  Gen.  Edward  Hand,  an  experi¬ 
enced  Continental  officer,  sent  to  Fort  Pitt  to  take 
command.  The  period  of  partial  peace  was  over,  that 
of  active  warfare  at  hand. 

The  prompt  ability  with  which  the  backwoodsmen 
managed  their  own  affairs  during  the  early  years  of 
the  Revolution  in  the  West,  is  worthy  of  notice.  They 
performed  a  double  duty  with  energy  and  loyalty.  Or¬ 
ganizing  temporary  governments  with  the  militia  com¬ 
pany  as  a  unit,  and  engaged  in  vigorously  defending 
their  own  homes  from  savage  neighbors,  they  never¬ 
theless  loyally  supported  the  newly-constituted,  but 
far-distant,  state  authorities  both  with  men  and  equip- 
[iil 


XVliH 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


ment.  The  Eastern  armies  were  to  a  considerable 
degree  recruited  from  the  frontiersmen;  Western  rifle¬ 
men  formed  a  valuable  adjunct  of  the  Continental 
forces.  The  first  contingent  from  beyond  New  Eng¬ 
land  to  join  Washington  at  Cambridge,  was  Daniel 
Morgan's  battalion  of  sharpshooters  from  the  upland 
border  of  Virginia. 

But  if  loyalty  was  characteristic  of  the  frontier, 
there  also  lurked  treachery  and  treason.  The  best 
and  the  worst  of  the  race  gather  upon  the  borders  of 
civilization.  As  usual,  there  were  those  not  averse  to 
an  Indian  war  for  the  sake  of  the  spoils  and  the  ex¬ 
citement.  To  keep  faith  with  the  Indians,  on  the  part 
of  the  authorities,  proved  often  exceedingly  difficult. 
At  the  beginning  of  ;the  Treaty  of  Pittsburgh  the 
White  Mingo,  one  of  the  chiefs  most  friendly  to  the 
American  cause,  narrowly  escaped  assassination.  In¬ 
dian  envoys  not  infrequently  suffered  harsh  treatment 
from  fanatical  and  enfuriated  militiamen.  The  hor¬ 
rors  of  Indian  warfare  were  not  entirely  due  to  Brit¬ 
ish  incitement.  In  many  , cases,  American  frontiers¬ 
men  but  reaped  the  bitter  harvest  of  their  own  trash 
deeds. 

It  should  not  be  overlooked,  however,  that  during 
these  fateful  years  armed  encounters  with  British  and 
Indians  were  but  incidents  in  the  main  purpose  of  the 
pioneer,  who  sought  to  occupy  and  subdue  the  wild 
land,  to  make  it  fruitful  and  blossom,  and  fill  it  with 
American  homes.  Kentucky  was  first  permanently 
settled  during  the  early  years  of  the  Revolution.  The 
frontier  of  Virginia,  while  restrained  within  the 
limits  of  the  territory  south  of  the  Ohio,  was  fast  be- 


INTRODUCTION 


xix 


in g  strewn  by  farms  and  small  communities.  The  im¬ 
portance  of  Pittsburgh  and  Wheeling  as  Western  ports 
of  entry  was  being  recognized.  The  West  was  becom¬ 
ing  homogeneous,  self-conscious,  nationalistic. 

We  are  under  obligations  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  H. 
Bausman,  of  Rochester,  Pa.,  for  permission  to  copy 
the  silhouette  of  Col.  George  Morgan,  given  in  his 
History  of  Beaver  County ,  Pennsylvania .  Dr.  Will¬ 
iam  Cabell  Rives  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  has  enabled 
us  to  add  greatly  to  the  value  of  the  volume  by  fur¬ 
nishing  therefor  a  careful  transcript  of  the  official  ro- 
port  of  the  treaty  held  at  Pittsburgh  in  September  and 
October,  1775,  the  original  manuscript  of  which  he 
inherited  from  his  ancestor,  Dr.  Thomas  Walker, 
one  of  the  treaty  commissioners.  Valuable  assistance 
in  the  reading  of  the  proof  of  the  entire  volume  has 
been  rendered  by  Miss  Annie  A.  Nunns  of  the  Soci¬ 
ety’s  staff. 

R.  G.  T. 

L.  P.  K. 


EXPLANATORY 


Following  the  names  of  the  writer  and  recipient  of 
each  document  is  given  its  press-mark  in  the  Draper 
Manuscript  Collection,  by  which  the  original  can  read¬ 
ily  be  identified  if  its  further  consultation  is  desired. 
The  capital  letter  or  letters  refer  to  the  series  to  which 
the  document  belongs ;  the  volume  number  precedes 
the  series  letter,  the  folio  or  page  number  follows. 
E.  g.,  the  press-mark  4QQ7  means  Vol.  4  of  the  Pres¬ 
ton  Papers,  p.  7;  the  press-mark  45J101  is  equivalent 
to  Vol.  45  of  the  George  Rogers  Clark  Papers,  p.  101. 

Immediately  after  the  press-mark,  the  nature  of  the 
document  is  indicated  by  the  descriptive  initials  cus¬ 
tomarily  employed  in  describing  manuscripts : 

A.  L.  —  autograph  letter  unsigned  (usually  a  draft 
in  the  author’s  handwriting). 

A.  L.  S.  —  autograph  letter  signed. 

L.  S.  — letter  signed  (text  being  in  another’s  hand¬ 
writing)  . 

D.  S.  —  document  signed. 


THE  REVOLUTION  ON  THE  UPPER 

OHIO,  1775-1777 


MOVEMENT  TO  KENTUCKY;  FRONTIER  FORTS 

[Col.  William  Preston  to  Lord  Dunmore.1  4QQ7 — A.  L., 

draft  in  Preston’s  handwriting.] 

Fincastle,  March  10th.  1775 

My  Lord — Herewith  your  Lordship  will  receive 
two  Letters  from  Cap1  Russell2 3  &  Col°  Henderson's 
Proposals  for  Settling  the  Lands  on  the  Ohio  under 
the  Company's  Purchase;  as  one  of  the  Letters  relate 
chiefly  to  that  Transaction  I  shall  only  observe  that 
between  five  hundred  and  a  Thousand  Cherokees  came 
in  &  that  the  whole  Business  was  to  be  concluded  this 
Week,  as  the  Indians  had  no  Objections  to  the  Sale.* 


1  For  biographical  sketches  of  Lord  Dunmore  and  Col.  Will¬ 
iam  Preston,  see  Documentary  History  of  Dunmore’s  War 
(Madison,  Wis.,  1905),  pp.  425-43^ — Ed. 

2  A  sketch  of  William  Russell  will  be  found  in  Ibid.,  p.  6, 
note  9. — Ed. 

3  Richard  Henderson,  a  prominent  North  Carolinian,  con¬ 
ceived  the  plan  of  settling  a  large  tract  of  land  between  the 
Kentucky  and  Cumberland  rivers,  to  be  purchased  from  the 
Cherokee  Indians.  For  the  carrying  out  of  his  scheme,  he 
organized  the  Transylvania  Company,  purchased  goods  to  the 
value  of  £10,000  sterling,  and  invited  the  Cherokee  to  hold  a 
treaty  at  Sycamore  Shoals,  on  the  Watauga  River.  Early  in 
March,  1775,  the  Indians  began  arriving,  and  about  twelve 
hundred  in  all  collected.  After  some  opposition  on  the  part  of 

X 


2 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


That  a  great  Number  of  Hands  are  employed  in  cut¬ 
ting  a  Waggon  Road* * * 4  through  Mockeson  &  Cumber¬ 
land  Gaps5 6  to  the  Kentucky  which  they  expect  to 
compleat  before  Planting  time;  &  that  at  least  500 
People  are  preparing  to  go  out  this  Spring  from  Caro¬ 
lina  beside  great  Numbers  from  Virga  to  Settle  there 
&  that  the  Company  intends  to  have  a  Treaty  with 


Dragging  Canoe  and  his  band,  the  purchase  was  consum¬ 
mated  on  March  17,  the  treaty  being  signed  by  Oconastota, 
Little  Carpenter,  and  many  prominent  chiefs.  The  Transyl¬ 
vania  Company  settled  Boonesborough,  opened  a  land-office, 
and  held  one  legislative  session  in  Kentucky.  But  their 
claim  was  protested  by  North  Carolina,  Virginia,  and  the 
Kentucky  settlers  already  on  the  ground.  In  1778  the  Virginia 
legislature  granted  the  Transylvania  Company  200,000  acres 
of  land,  on  Green  River  as  indemnity  for  their  expense  in  set¬ 
tling  Kentucky. 

Henderson  went  out  with  the  first  group  of  settlers,  his 
journal  on  that  trip  being  among  the  Draper  MSS.,  iCC.  In 
1779  he  was  commissioner  from  his  state  for  extending  west¬ 
ward  the  boundary  line  between  it  and  Virginia,  and  visited 
Boonesborough  in  the  spring  of  1780.  After  serving  in  one 
session  of  the  North  Carolina  Assembly,  Henderson  died  at 
his  home  in  Granville  County,  Jan.  30,  1785.  The  above  ac¬ 
count  is  abridged  from  a  sketch  by  Dr.  Lyman  C.  Draper  in 

Draper  MSS.,  3B341-345,  5B83.— Ed. 

4  Before  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  at  Watauga,  Henderson 
dispatched  Daniel  Boone  with  a  company  of  experienced 
woodsmen  to  open  a  road  to  the  Kentucky  River,  a  distance 
of  some  two  hundred  miles.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  well- 
known  Wilderness  Road,  later  traversed  by  thousands  of  emi¬ 
grants  into  the  new  West.  It  was  a  wagon-road  only  as  far 
as  Powell’s  Valley;  after  that,  until  1792,  but  a  pack-horse 
trail.  See  Thomas  Speed,  “Wilderness  Road,”  in  Filson  Club 
Publications  (Louisville,  1886),  No.  2.  For  the  list  of  Boone’s 
co-workers  see  R.  G.  Thwaites,  Daniel  Boone  (New  York, 

1902),  p.  11 7. — Ed. 

6  For  reference  to  Moccasin  Gap  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  60, 
note  2.  Cumberland  Gap  was  first  discovered  by  Dr.  Thomas 
Walker,  April  13,  1750,  and  named  in  honor  of  the  English 
duke  of  that  title.  See  J.  Stoddard  Johnston,  “First  Explora¬ 
tions  of  Kentucky,”  Filson  Club  Publications,  No.  13. — Ed. 


MOVEMENT  TO  KENTUCKY 


3 


the  Wobaush  Indians0  &  give  them  a  considerable 
present  to  Permit  the  Settlement  on  those  Lands. 
The  Cherokees  I  hear  says  that  Col0  Donelson  promised 
them  £500  for  the  Lands  above  the  Kentucky  which 
has  not  been  paid  &  therefore  they  believe  themselves 
at  liberty  to  sell  them  a  second  Time;* * * * * * 7  &  the  Com¬ 
pany  it  is  said  have  furnished  themselves  with  the 
Journals  of  our  house  of  Burgesses  &  other  Authen- 
tick  Papers  to  make  it  Appear  that  Virginia  looked 
upon  those  Lands  to  be  the  property  of  the  Cherokees. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  had  the  Commissioners 
been  there  from  this  Government,  &  met  the  Indians 
before  they  Saw  the  Goods  that  the  Sale  might  have 
been  prevented ;  however  that  be  the  matter  is  now 
become  Serious  &  demands  the  Attention  of  Govern- 

8  The  Wabash  Indians  were  not  a  distinct  tribe;  this  was  a 

collective  term  for  the  tribes  residing  on  or  near  Wabash 
River,  comprising  the  various  divisions  of  the  Miami,  with  the 

Mascoutin  and  the  Kickapoo.  They  frequently  raided  the 

territory  below  Kentucky  River.  There  seems  to  have  been 

no  attempt,  however,  on  the  part  of  the  Transylvania  pro¬ 

prietors  to  communicate  with  the  Wabash  Indians. — Ed. 

7  For  the  Indian  purchase  here  referred  to,  see  Dunmore  s 
War,  p.  5,  note  8,  also  p.  20.  Col.  John  Donelson  was  born  in 
Maryland  about  1726;  but  he  early  removed  to  Pittsylvania 
County,  V a.,  where  he  owned  iron-mills  and  was  a  man  of  im¬ 
portance,  representing  his  county  in  the  Virginia  house  of 
burgesses.  In  1771  he  was  employed  to  survey  the  Cherokee 
boundary  line.  Becoming  interested  in  Western  lands,  he 
moved  his  family  (1779-80)  to  central  Tennessee.  Descending 
Tennessee  River  with  a  fleet  of  flat-boats,  he  joined  James  Rob¬ 
ertson  at  Nashville,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  that  settlement. 
In  1781  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  returning  to  the  Cumberland 
settlement  in  1785.  This  latter  year  he  visited  Virginia,  and  was 
employed  by  Georgia  to  lay  out  a  town  at  the  Tennessee  bend, 
being  killed  in  the  wilderness  in  the  spring  of  1786.  His 
daughter  Rachel  became  the  wife  of  President  Andrew  Jack- 
son. — Ed. 


4 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


ment  otherwise  it  is  too  likely  that  valuable  &  exten¬ 
sive  Territory  will  be  forever  lost  to  Virginia. 

It  has  been  said  here  that  your  Lordship  intended 
to  have  those  Lands  Surveyed  and  Sold  for  the 
Crown  at  a  reasonable  Price.  If,  so,  I  can  think  of 
no  step  so  effectual  to  settle  that  Country,  as  the  Vir¬ 
ginians  at  least,  &  perhaps  many  of  the  Carolinians 
would  rather  Purchase  even  at  a  higher  Price  from 
the  Crown  &  be  assured  of  a  good  Title  than  run 
any  Risque  under  the  Carolina  Company.  But  as  that 
Company  has  declared  that  they  will  not  suffer  any 
Land  to  be  Surveyed  below  the  Kentucky,  I  am  appre¬ 
hensive  this  step  could  not  be  taken  unless  the  Busi¬ 
ness  could  be  Supported  by  an  armed  force;  &  how 
that  could  be  effected,  either  by  the  removal  of  the 
Garrison  or  a  large  part  of  it  from  point  Pleasant8  to 
the  Falls  or  by  (raising  a  Company  for  that  Purpose 
your  Lordship  can  best  determine. 

Should  yr  Lordship  incline  to  dispose  of  the  Land 
in  this  or  any  other  Manner  &  order  it  to  be  laid  off 
in  Lotts,  I  will  cheerfully  wait  for  my  Fees  until 
money  can  be  raised  out  of  the  Sales,  &  should  any 
unforeseen  accident  prevent  the  Sales  thereof  I  am 
willing  to  run  the  Risque  without  having  any  charge 
against  your  Lordship  or  the  Govern1,  for  that  service. 

Tho*  there  are  yet  Lands  to  Survey  for  Officers  & 
Soldiers9  I  was  affraid  to  Send  out  any  Surveyors  this 

8  For  the  garrison  at  Point  Pleasant,  left  there  at  the  close 
of  the  campaign  of  1774,  see  Ibid.,  pp.  309,  310. — Ed. 

9  Preston  here  refers  to  the  bounty  lands  granted  by  Gov. 
Robert  Dinwiddie  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  from  Virginia 
who  took  part  in  the  French  and  Indian  War  (1754-63). 
After  the  king’s  proclamation  of  1763,  these  lands  could  not 


MOVEMENT  TO  KENTUCKY 


5 


Spring  untill  I  first  acquainted  your  Lordship  there¬ 
with  &  untill  I  would  receive  further  Instructions,  & 
the  rather  as  I  have  been  informed  by  Col0  Christian10 
and  others  that  your  Lordship  intended  to  send  me 
Instructions  how  to  proceed  in  this  important  Business. 

The  bearer  Capt.  Floyd  who  was  out  last  year  as  a 
Surveyor11  can  inform  your  Lordship  fully  of  the 
Probability  of  settling  that  Country  as  above  proposed, 
&  of  the  Numbers  who  have  already  removed,  &  are 
about  to  remove  there  this  Spring  in  order  to  plant 
Corn  let  the  Consequences  be  what  it  will. 

Upon  the  whole  my  Lord  it  appears  to  me  that  the 
Country  will  very  shortly  be  inhabited  by  Numbers  of 
Industrious  People  who  can  not  be  prevented  from  go¬ 
ing  there;  &  it  now  remains  with  your  Lordship  to 
take  such  immediate  Steps  as  you  may  Judge  most  ex¬ 
pedient  to  encourage  those  People,  to  dispose  of  the 
Land  for  the  Crown,  &  to  secure  to  the  purchasers 
proper  Titles  for  the  Same 

By  the  last  returns  Cap1  Russell  had  from  the  Point 
he  informed  me  that  the  Flour  &  Indian  Corn  there 
would  not  last  longer  than  the  middle  of  this  Month, 
upon  which  Report  I  conveened  several  Officers  who 
advised  to  have  some  Corn  purchased  on  Clinch  & 

be  surveyed  on  Ohio  waters  until  after  the  treaty  of  Fort 
Stanwix  (1768).  Washington  was  much  interested  in  these 
claims,  and  in  1770  visited  the  upper  Ohio  on  their  behalf,  em¬ 
ploying  William  Crawford  as  surveyor.  The  surveyors  from 
Fincastle  County  who  were  down  the  Ohio  in  the  spring  of 
I774>  were  laying  out  these  patents.  See  Ibid.,  pp.  1,  7,  22-25, 
na-133. — Ed. 

10  For  a  brief  biography  of  Col.  William  Christian,  see 
Ibid.,  pp.  429,  430.— Ed. 

11  For  John  Floyd,  and  a  letter  written  while  surveying  in 
the  West,  see  Ibid.,  pp.  7-9;  consult  also  pp.  42,  143,  144. — Ed. 


6 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Send  it  on  Horse  back  to  Sandy  Creek  &  from  thence 
to  the  Fort  by  Water,12  for  an  immediate  Supply; 
but  as  this  will  be  attended  with  considerable  Expense 
to  the  Country  I  could  not  venture  to  advise  Cap1 
Russell  to  purchase  more  than  75  or  100  Bushells  un¬ 
till  I  would  inform  your  Lordship  thereof,  which  I 
w^as  about  to  do  by  Express  had  I  not  prevailed  on 
Mr.  Floyd  to  go  down,  for  which  reason  your  Lord- 
ship  will  perhaps  think  proper  to  Order  his  Expen¬ 
ses  to  be  repaid. 

Cap1  Russell  is  of  opinion  that  Col0.  Stephen 
would  order  Some  Flour  by  the  way  of  Fort  Dun- 
more  on  an  application  from  your  Lordship.13  It  will 
be  necessary  either  to  send  a  Supply  of  Flour  down, 
or  have  the  Company  discharged  and  the  stores  dis^ 
posed  of ;  which  last  would  discourage  the  settling  of 
that  Country;  but  could  part,  even  fifty  men  be  Sent 
to  the  Falls  it  would  certainly  answer  a  good  purpose 
on  the  present  occasion. 

Should  your  Lordship  Honour  me  with  any  In¬ 
structions  relative  to  ordering  a  Supply  of  Flour  to 
the  Point,  or  to  the  Surveying  of  the  Lands  on  the 
Ohio  I  shall  take  the  utmost  Pleasure  in  Obeying 
them  with  the  greatest  Punctuality. 

I  am.  Your  Lordships  most  Ob1.  &  very  hble  Sevt 
-  .  W.  P. 

12  Clinch  River  is  an  upper  tributary  of  the  Tennessee,  on 
which  a  considerable  settlement  was  beginning  to  spring  up. 
It  was  contiguous  to  the  headwaters  of  Sandy  River,  that 
affluent  of  the  Ohio  River  which  now  forms  the  boundary  line 
between  Kentucky  and  West  Virginia.  Sandy  was  more  easily 
navigated  than  the  Great  Kanawha,  hence  this  suggestion  with 
regard  to  provisioning  the  fort  at  Point  Pleasant. — Ed. 

13  For  Col.  Adam  Stephen  and  Fort  Dunmore,  see  Dunmore  s 
War,  p.  191,  note  35,  and  p.  35,  note  60. — Ed. 


GOVERNOR  AND  CHIEF 


7. 


LETTER  FOR  CORNSTALK 

[Edmund  Winston  to  Col.  William  Preston.  4QQ8 — A.  L.  S.] 

Bedford  March  20th,  1775 

Dear  Sir — I  received  only  last  Week  the  Favour  of 
your  Letter  of  January  the  9th.  I  happened  to  get 
early  Information  of  Cap1.  Russell’s  coming  in,  &  pro¬ 
cured  the  Governor’s  Letter  to  the  Corn  Stalk,14 
which  Col0.  Christian  has  before  this  I  suppose  deliv¬ 
ered  to  Captn.  Russell.  The  Letter  from  his  Lord- 
ship  was  not  so  full  as  I  could  have  wished,  for  I 
think  it  contained  not  more  than  twenty  Words,  how¬ 
ever  it  was  all  could  be  got.  I  wrote  to  CaptD.  Russell 
in  Jan’y  last  recommending  my  Affair  to  him,  &  now 
send  another  Letter  of  which  I  must  trouble  you  to 
procure  a  Conveyance.  After  all  perhaps  it  will  be 
necessary  that  I  should  go  out,  and  I  shall  be  glad  of 
a  Line  from  you  advising  what  it  is  proper  to  do  on 
my  Part.  I  am  Dr.  Sir 

Your  affectionate 

E.  Winston15 

To  Col0.  William  Preston  of  Smithfield 


14  Russell’s  absence  from  Fort  Blair,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Great  Kanawha,  was  but  temporary.  Visitors  to  Kentucky 
called  on  him  at  his  garrison  in  the  early  summer.  See  letter 
of  June  12,  post ,  and  Draper  MSS.,  iCC  89.  For  Cornstalk,  the 
Shawnee  chief,  see  sketch  in  Dunmore’s  War ,  pp.  432,  433. — Ed. 

16  Edmund  Winston  was  a  son  of  William,  maternal  uncle 
of  Patrick  Henry.  Born  in  Hanover  County  about  1745,  he 
inherited  a  considerable  property,  and  for  many  years  was 
judge  in  the  Virginia  courts.  He  married  first  Alice  Winston, 
second  Dorothea  Dandridge  (widow  of  Patrick  Henry),  and 
died  upon  his  estate  in  Bedford  in  1818.  His  father  had  in¬ 
vestments  in  Western  lands,  to  which,  doubtless,  Winston  re¬ 
fers  in  this  letter. — Ed. 


B 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


ORDERS  EOR  THE  MILITIA 

[Col.  William  Preston  to  Col.  William  Christian.  4QQ14  — 
A.  L.,  draft  in  Preston's  handwriting.] 

Sir — As  the  Militia  Law  of  1757  has  expired  & 
the  Invasion  &  Insurrection  Laws  of  the  same  Date 
will  expire  in  June,  Probably  before  the  Assembly  can 
meet  to  revise  those  Laws  therefor  the  Militia  must 
now  be  regulated  and  Diciplined  by  the  only  Law  in 
force  for  that  Purpose  I  mean  that  of  1738.16  And  as 
the  safety  of  the  Frontier  Inhabitants  in  a  great  meas¬ 
ure  depends  on  a  well  regulated  Militia,  It  is  the 
Duty  of  every  Officer  in  Fincastle17  to  use  his  Author¬ 
ity  and  Influence  for  that  Purpose,  by  making  them¬ 
selves  acquainted  with  the  only  Militia  Law  in  Force 
&  as  frequently  as  may  be  convenient  for  the  People 
to  call  private  Musters  of  the  Respective  Company's 
and  by  duely  exercising  the  Soldiers  under  their  Com- 

16  The  Virginia  Assembly,  or  House  of  Burgesses,  met  at 
Williamsburgh,  May  24,  1774.  Two  days  later  it  was  pro¬ 
rogued  by  the  governor  for  passing  resolutions  of  sympathy 
with  the  oppressions  of  Massachusetts.  By  various  proroga¬ 
tions,  the  meeting  was  postponed  until  June  1,  1775,  when, 
after  a  stormy  session,  the  house  adjourned  never  to  re¬ 
assemble — the  authority  passing  to  the  convention  assembled 
by  the  people  of  the  state.  The  organization  of  the  militia 
under  act  of  1738  was  recommended  by  the  Virginia  conven¬ 
tion  which  met  at  Richmond,  March  20-27,  and  it  was  doubt¬ 
less  in  obedience  to  this  request  that  Preston  issued  these 
orders.  See  also  Force,  American  Archives ,  4th  series,  ii, 
p.  169. — Ed. 

17  Fincastle  County,  embracing  all  southwestern  Virginia 
and  Kentucky,  had  but  a  brief  existence.  Formed  out  of 
Botetourt  in  1772,  it  was  in  1776  superseded  by  the  three  coun¬ 
ties  of  Montgomery,  Washington,  and  Kentucky.  While  it 
existed,  Col.  William  Preston  was  county-lieutenant,  and 
Col.  William  Christian  colonel  of  its  militia  regiment. — Ed. 


ORDERS  FOR  MILITIA 


9 


mand,  as  also  to  see  that  they  are  provided  with  Arms 
&  Ammunition  as  that  Law  directs ;  or  as  nearly  so 
as  they  Possibly  can.  Should  any  Officers  have  neg¬ 
lected  to  Quallify  into  their  Commissions  it  is  neces¬ 
sary  they  should  take  the  first  Opportunity  to  do  so. 

And  as  a  general  Muster  will  be  held  some  time 
in  Sepr.  or  Octr.  next  of  which  Notice  will  be  given. 
The  Officers  are  to  keep  Just  Returns  of  the  Delinquent 
in  their  Companies,  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  make 
a  due  report  thereof  on  Oath  to  the  Court  Martial, 
that  such  Delinquents  may  be  fined  according  to  the 
Sd'.  Law. 

I  would  request  you  to  give  Instructions  to  all  the 
Captains  in  this  County  agreeable  to  the  above  &  ear¬ 
nestly  Exhort  them  to*  a  punctual  Discharge  of  their 
Duty,  especially  as  the  Savages  have  lately  committed 
some  Murders  on  the  People  about  to  Settle  to  the 
Westward18  &  we  don’t  know  how  soon  they  may  fall 
upon  the  Inhabitants.  I  am  Sir  yr  hble  ServC 

W.  P. 

May  Ist.  1775 

29th  Ap  1775 
To  Col.  Christian 

18  This  refers  to  the  attack  upon  Boone’s  men,  who  were 
cutting  a  road  to  Kentucky;  see  note  4,  ante.  Early  on  the 
morning  of  March  25,  1775,  a  party  of  Indians  crept  up  to 
their  camp,  fired  upon  the  sleeping  men,  and  killed  Capt.  Wil¬ 
liam  Twitty  and  his  negro,  besides  wounding  Felix  Walker. 
Two  days  later,  the  same  band  killed  in  the  near  neighborhood 
two  men  from  the  party  of  Samuel  Tate.  See  Draper  MSS., 
3B.— Ed. 


IO 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


VIRGINIA  HEARS  OF  LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD 

[Rev.  John  Brown  19  to  Col.  William  Preston.  4QQ15  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Dr  Sr — I  look  upon  myself  indespenciblly  obligated 
to  return  you  thanks  for  your  two  Epistles  &  have  no 
other  way  to  demonstrate  it  but  by  as  speedy  an  An¬ 
swer  as  I  possibly  can,  therefore  I  sit  down  to  tell 
first  the  proceedings  of  the  Presbry  relative  to  the 

semenary  for  the  Education  of  youth.20 

*>;<'!<  >k  *  *  21 

What  a  Buzzel  is  amongst  People  about  Ken- 
tuck?  to  hear  people  speak  of  it  one  Would  think  it 
was  a  new  found  Paradise ;  &  I  doubt  not  if  it  is 
such  a  place  as  represented  but  ministers  will  have 
thin  congregations,  but  why  need  I  fear  that?  Min¬ 
isters  are  moveable  goods  as  well  as  others  &  stand 
in  need  of  good  land  as  any  do,  for  they  are  bad 
Farmers. 

^  ^  s|c  ^  ^21 


19  For  a  sketch  of  Rev.  John  Brown  see  Dunmore’ s  War, 
p.  27,  note  42. — Ed. 

20  This  was  first  called  Augusta  Academy,  which  was  opened 
for  students  in  May,  1776.  Three  years  later  it  was  removed 
to  Lexington,  and  rechristened  Liberty  Hall.  In  1782  the  in¬ 
stitution  was  incorporated.  Its  work  drew  the  attention  of 
Washington,  who  in  1796  gave  a  considerable  donation  to  this 
Western  seminary,  whereupon  the  trustees  changed  the  name 
to  Washington  Academy.  Later,  it  became  Washington  Uni¬ 
versity,  and  upon  the  death  (1871)  of  Robert  E.  Lee,  who  had 
served  as  its  president,  received  the  present  name  of  Wash¬ 
ington  and  Lee  University.  A  subscription  paper  for  starting 
this  academy  is  found  in  Draper  MSS.,  7ZZ7. — Ed. 

21  The  omitted  portion  gives  the  names  of  those  appointed 
to  solicit  subscriptions,  and  the  prospects  of  success,  of  which 
latter  Brown  was  not  very  sanguine. — Ed. 

22  Here  the  original  deals  with  family  affairs,  and  the  desire 
of  Rev.  James  Waddell  to  acquire  by  purchase  the  estate  of 
Springhill. — Ed. 


NEWS  FROM  BOSTON 


II 


This  very  moment  Boston’s  News  Struck  my  Ears 
&  affects  my  Heart,  tho’  it  is  but  what  I  expected 
we  live  in  a  terrible  world  (terrible  indeed)  when  men 
of  the  same  Nation  make  a  merit  of  sheding  one 
anothors  Blood.  I  have  not  seen  the  express;  but  as 
I  am  informed  that  the  Kings  army  in  a  Town  some 
distance  from  Boston  killed  6  of  the  inhabitants  & 
wounded  severals,  for  which  reason  the  N.  England 
men  rose  to  the  number  of  4°00  &  surrounded  1200 
upon  a  hill  &  killed  150  at  the  expense  of  50  of  their 
men  perhaps  you  have  the  account  more  perfect  than 
I.23  3  ships  of  the  line  with  4  Companies  of  marines 

are  come  to  Virginia  to  keep  us  in  Order,  it  is  said 
they  have  taken  the  magazine  in  W  :burg24  I  think 
it  is  time  for  the  Continent  to  do  something  for  the 
deffense  of  Life  and  Liberty.  I  am  no  polotition  yet 
I  can  see  that  we  are  in  no  posture  for  deffense,  were 
we  independent  of  England  &  laws  military  and  civil, 

23  The  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  and  Concord  reached 
Virginia  the  last  of  April,  and  was  published  in  the  Virginia 
Gazette  of  the  twenty-ninth  of  that  month.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  in  less  than  six  days  it  had  crossed  the  Blue 
Ridge  and  was  known  to  the  dwellers  in  the  Shenandoah  Val¬ 
ley,  and  that  it  was  thought  to  have  spread  as  far  as  Preston’s 
home  at  Draper’s  Meadows,  near  Blacksburg,  in  present  Mont¬ 
gomery  County,  on  waters  draining  into  the  Ohio. — Ed. 

24  April  20,  Governor  Dunmore  ordered  the  captain  of  the 
“Magdalen,”  lying  at  anchor  in  the  James,  to  carry  off  twenty 
kegs  of  powder  from  the  public  magazine  in  Williamsburgh, 
and  place  it  on  board  the  vessel.  This  alarmed  the  Virginia 
patriots,  and  at  the  time  Brown  was  writing  this  letter,  Pat¬ 
rick  Henry  at  the  head  of  the  Planover  County  militia  was  ad¬ 
vancing  upon  the  capital.  An  armed  collision  at  this  time  was 
prevented,  and  the  king’s  officers  prevailed  upon  to  pay  the 
value  of  the  powder  to  the  patriot  leaders.  During  his  alarm 
over  this  affair,  Dunmore  armed  the  Indian  hostages  who  had 
the  previous  autumn  been  brought  in  from  the  Shawnee 
town. — Ed. 


12 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


money  struck  to  support  an  army,  it  wou’d  not  (I  am 
apprehensive,  be  easy  to  subdue  us  or  Make  us  Slaves 
as  is  intended.  As  far  as  I  am  acquainted  I  find  the 
spirit  of  resentment  increased  among  the  people,  but 
what  can  they  do  ?  They  are  like  sheep  in  the  Wild¬ 
erness  without  a  head.  May  the  Good  Lord  who  can 
bring  order  out  of  confusion  order  all  things  for  his 
own  Glory  &  protect  his  Church  &  people  in  america 
from  all  ill  designing  men  is  the  earnest  Prayer  of 
Dr.  Brother  your’s 

John  Brown 

May  5th  1775 

• 

P.  S.  Wou’d  not  £50  pr  100  [acres]  be  sufficient 
price  for  Spring  Hill  Plantation  which  I  am  apprehen¬ 
sive  Mr.  Waddell25  woud  be  willing  to  give. 

Col0.  William  Preston  in  Smithfield,  Fincastle  County. 


GARRISON  AT  POINT  PLEASANT 

[Capt.  William  Russell  to  Col.  William  Fleming.26  4QQ19 

A.  L.] 

Fort  Elair  June  12^  1775 

Dear  Majr. — I  Recdl.  your  welcome  Letter  by 
Thomas  Tays;  which,  be  assure’d,  in  this  remote  De- 

25  Rev.  James  Waddell,  afterwards  famous  as  the  “blind 
preacher,”  and  described  by  William  Wirt,  in  Letters  of  the 
British  Spy  (N.  Y.,  1832),  pp.  195-205,  was  born  in  1739  either 
in  Ireland  or  on  the  sea.  Educated  under  Dr.  Samuel  Finley, 
he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1761.^  First  residing  in  Lancaster 
County,  Virginia,  he  removed  to  the  upper  country  about  the 
date  of  this  letter.  He  served  the  Tinkling  Spring  congrega¬ 
tion  until  1783,  when  he  removed  to  Louisa  County,  where  he 
died  in  1805.  The  estate  of  Springhill,  of  which  he  purchased 
1300  acres  for  £1,000,  was  part  of  the  original  estate  of  Col. 
James  Patton,  for  whom  Preston  was  executor. — Ed. 

26  For  Fleming,  see  Dunmore’s  IV ar,  pp.  428,  429. — Ed. 


AT  POINT  PLEASANT 


13 


partment,  contributed  more  than  a  little  to  my  Satis¬ 
faction. 

I  had  some  Days  before  the  Receipt  of  yours,  been 
favour’d  with  the  shocking  Acct.  of  three  Battles  be¬ 
ing  fought  near  the  City  of  Boston,  between  the  Brit¬ 
ish  Troops,  and  Americans;  tho’,  must  acknowledge 
my  great  joy,  in  our  victories  obtained  over  the  Ene¬ 
mies  Tyranic  Pride. 

The  unheard  of  Acts  of  Barbarity,  committed  by 
the  Brittish  Troops,  will  doubtless  stir  up  every  lover 
of  his  Country,  to  be  Zealous,  and  forward  in  it’s  de¬ 
fence,  to  support  our  Liberty;  tho’,  I  doubt  not,  but 
many  sychophants  to  Brittains  Interest,  will  now  ap¬ 
pear  Patriots ; —  as  long  as  our  Arms  prove  Victor¬ 
ious  ;  but,  should  ever  our  present  success  change, 
and  in  ever  so  small  a  manner,  be  Sully’d,  you’l  find 
Tray  tors  enough  prick  up  their  Ears,  and  in  a  Pro- 
fetic  language,  display  their  presuggested  knoledge  of 
Events.  I  have,  as  long  as  in  my  power,  procrastin¬ 
ated  our  departure  from  this  Garison,  expecting  that 
ere  now,  we  should  Receive  some  Orders  from  the 
Convention,  that  might  countermand  the  Governors 
Letter  to  me,27  but  as  none  such  have  yet  come  to  hand, 
I  am  this  Morning  preparing  to  start  off  our  Cattle 
up  Sandy,  and  expect,  that  Commd.  will  leave  this 
Wensday,  or  thursday  at  farthest,  and  shall  Decamp 

27  The  Virginia  convention  which  met  at  Richmond,  March 
20^27,  1775,  provided  for  embodying  the  militia  of  the  state 
(see  Preston’s  orders,  ante ,  pp.  8,  9),  but  not  the  garrisons  of 
the  frontier  forts.  By  one  of  his  last  executive  acts,  the  gov¬ 
ernor  ordered  the  garrisons  at  Fort  Dunmore  (Pitt),  Fort 
Fincastle  (Wheeling),  and  Fort  Blair  (Point  Pleasant)  dis¬ 
banded.  and  the  stockades  evacuated.  See  Amer.  Archives, 
4th  series,  ii,  p.  1189. — Ed: 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


myselfe  with  a  Convoy  to  the  other  stores  next  Mon¬ 
day,  and  expect  to  overtake  the  Stock,  at  the  big 
painted  Lick28  about  sixty  Miles  up  Sandy. 

I  expect  you  have  hear’d  of  Col0.  Preston’s  Orders, 
to  Maj1*.  Engles29  to  take  possession  of  the  Cattle, 
and  Horses  in  my  care  at  this  Garison ;  but,  as  I  found 
not  a  word,  in  his  Lordship’s  Orders  to  me,  Similar  to 
the  Colonels  pretended  authority,  I  took  the  oppinion 
of  my  officers,  who  judged  it  most  to  the  Interest  of 
the  Country,  that  I  should  keep  together  the  Stock 
and  Stores,  and  Convoy  them  into  the  Settlement,  and 
dispose  of  them  myselfe,  unless  contra  Orders  come 
to  me  from  the  Convention.  I  am  in  a  singular  man¬ 
ner  obliged  to  you,  for  your  Advice  in  the  disposal  of 
the  Beves,  and  horses,  I  have  on  hand  of  the  Coun¬ 
try’s  ;  and  as  your  oppinion  corroborates  with  our  Reso¬ 
lutions,  I  trust  all  things  will  go  right,  and  will  I  hope, 
at  least  open  the  Eyes  of  the  designing  Col0,  to  see 
his  folly,  in  aiming  to  make  use  of  me  as  a  Tool,  in 
any  one  [Ms  torn]  his  unfair  Intentions.  The  Gairi- 
son  we  intend  to  let  remain,  as  I  think  the  distruc- 
tion  of  it  at  this  time  might  prove  Injurious  to  the 
Country. 

The  Corn  Stalk  left  me,  last  thursday ;  and  in  the 
space  of  four  Days  [conve]  rsation,  I  discovered  that  it 
is  the  Intention  of  the  Pick  Tribe  of  Indians  [to  be 
tr]oublesome  to  our  new  Settlements  whenever  they 

28  Probably  where  Paintsville,  Johnson  County,  Ky.,  now 
stands,  at  the  junction  of  Paint  Creek  with  the  Levisa  fork  of 
Sandy  River. — Ed. 

29  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Col.  William  Ingles,  who  acted  in 
Dunmore’s  War  as  commissary,  with  the  rank  of  major,  see 
Dunmore’ s  War,  p.  ioi,  note  46. — Ed. 


AT  POINT  PLEASANT 


15 


can;  and  he  further  assured  me,  that  the  Mingoes30 
behave  in  a  very  unbecoming  manner  Frequently  up¬ 
braiding  the  Shawanees,  in  cowardly  making  the 
Peace ;  &  call  them  big  knife  People ;  that  the  Corn 
Stalk  can’t  well  account  for  their  Intentions,  if  this 
be  true,  and  a  rupture  between  England  and  America 
has  really  commenced,  we  shall  certainly  Receive 
Trouble  at  the  hands  of  those  People  in  a  short  Time, 
as  they  got  the  news  of  the  Battles  in  the  Shawanee 
Towns,  eight,  or  ten  days  before  the  Corn  Stalk 
came  here;  Tho>’  I  am  confident,  the  Shawanees  will 
always  be  our  Friends.  The  Corn  Stalk  brought  me 
two  of  the  Horses  taken  by  that  party  of  Cherrokees ; 
who,  murdered  the  People  on  Kentucke  in  March. 
The  Shawanese  took  the  Rascal,  who  had  them ;  but, 
he  made  his  escape  from  them,  it  is  supposed  he  is  re¬ 
turn’d  to  the  Cherokee  Nation.  It  appears  to  have 

30  The  Pick  tribe  were  a  division  of  the  Shawnee,  who  lived 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  modern  Piqua,  Ohio.  The  name 
is  doubtless  taken  from  Pickawillany,  where  a  branch  of  the 
Miami,  led  by  La  Demoiselle  (or  Old  Britain),  settled  in  1748 
in  order  to  make  a  treaty  with  the  English.  Gist  and  Croghan 
visited  this  town  in  1750,  finding  there  a  number  of  British 
Indian  traders.  Two  years  later  a  force  of  French  and  In¬ 
dians,  under  the  command  of  Charles  Langlade  of  Wisconsin, 
fell  upon  this  village,  destroyed  it,  and  burned  its  chief.  After 
the  French  and  Indian  War,  the  Miami  withdrew  to  the 
Northwest,  being  succeeded  by  the  Shawnee.  Their  chief 
town,  known  as  Piqua,  was  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the 
present  Piqua,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Great  Miami,  south  of 
the  entrance  of  Loramie’s  Creek.  This  and  adjacent  villages 
(collectively  called  Piqua)  were  especially  hostile  to  the  whites 
during  the  Revolution,  being  twice  raided  by  George  Rogers 
Clark,  in  1780  and  again  in  1782. 

For  the  Mingo  see  Dunmore’ s  War,  p.  28,  note  47.  They 
were  irreconcilables  in  the  war  of  1774,  and  refused  to  make 
peace  with  Dunmore  until  he  sent  a  force  to  raid  their  town. 
See  Ibid.,  p.  303,  note  17. — Ed. 


i6 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


been  the  Pics,  that  fired  on  Boones  Camp  when  the 
two  Men  were  kill'd,  out  of  his  Party.31  I  had  re¬ 
solved  when  I  left  home  to  go  from  this  Place  to  Ken- 
tucke;  and  especially  since  I  Recd.  my  other  Warrant; 
but  hearing  of  the  troublesome  Times,  in  the  Country, 
I  am  greatly  purplex’d  in  mind,  to  hear  more  cer¬ 
tain  acct.  how  affairs  are  likely  to  go  in  Virginia;  nor 
can  I  fall  upon  any  method,  to  save  the  Stores  so  ef¬ 
fectual,  from  the  danger  of  the  Indians,  as  to  bring 
them  into  the  Settlements;  and  after  seeing  Col°. 
Christian  and  your  selfe,  I  hope  to  be  satisfy’d  in  the 
present  Times. 

I  have  wrote  several  Letters  to  Col°.  Henderson, 
since  I  returnd  to  this  Post,  and  have  had  it  in  my 
power,  to  calm  the  Minds  of  several  Compys.  who, 
have  gone  down  this  River,  so  that  I  hope,  the  new 
Country  about  Kentucke  will  Settle  quickly:  I  have 
also  Wrote  Majr.  Connelly,32  so  that  I  wood  fain 
hope,  our  wishes,  and  endeavours  may  prove  effectual, 
to  the  speedy  Settling  that  Country. 

I  have  heard  the  Convention  is  to  meet  some  Time 
this  Month;  and  have  wrote  to  Inform  Col0.  Chris¬ 
tian,33  respecting  the  present  Temper,  of  the  neigh¬ 
boring  Tribes  of  Indians,  to  the  Shawanees ;  which,  I 
think  is  really  necessary,  the  Convention  should  be 
made  acquainted  with,  that  they  may  judge  accord- 

31  See  ante,  p.  9,  note  18. — Ed. 

82  For  Dr.  John  Connolly  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  42,  note 
77.  Evidently  Russell  was  not  yet  informed  of  Connolly’s 
plans  to  side  with  the  English  and  attack  the  American  fron¬ 
tier — see  post. — Ed. 

33  The  convention  met  again  July  17,  Col.  William  Christian 
representing  Fincastle  County. — Ed. 


AT  FORT  PITT 


ingly;  and  as  your  Letter  to  me  got  brook  open  on 
new  River,  his  may  also,  and  probably  miscarry ;  there- 
fore,  I  think  it  best  to  send  off  Henry  Boyer,34  and 
Geo.  Oxen  as  an  express,  one  with  this  Letter  to  you, 
and  the  other  is  to  let  my  Family  know  of  my  coming, 
and  withall  to  have  some  Horses  taken  out  to  Sandy, 
to  carry  in  the  Stores  upon.  If  Col0.  Christian  should 
be  down  the  Country,  and  any  opportunity  offers,  pre 
[MS  torn]  to  dispatch  my  Letter,  sent  to  him,  by  Mr. 
Engles  last  Week  [MS.  torn]  this  may  find  you,  and 
Lady,  and  little  Son  in  Health;35  and  that  the  Al¬ 
mighty  may  comfort,  and  protect  you  in  the  present 
troubles,  is  the  harty  wish  of  yours  most  Affection¬ 
ately. 

[William  Russell] 

[To  Col.  William  Fleming] 


AFFAIRS  AT  FORT  PITT 

[Summary  of  printed  documents  concerning  movements  at 
Fort  Pitt  and  vicinity,  during  the  spring  and  summer  of 
I775-] 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Lord  Dunmore  (November, 
1774),  from  his  military  expedition  into  the  Indian 
country,  he  left  a  garrison  of  seventy-five  men  in  Fort 


84  Although  then  but  a  youth,  Henry  Bowyer  took  part  in 
Dunmore’s  War,  and  was  wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Point 
Pleasant.  He  afterwards  enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  cav¬ 
alry  under  Col.  William  Washington.  Becoming  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Botetourt  County,  he  was  clerk  of  its  courts,  1791- 
1831,  and  died  in  1833. — Ed. 

35  Mrs.  Fleming  was  a  sister  of  Col.  William  Christian;  for 
their  son  see  Dunmore3 s  War,  p.  182,  note  27. — Ed. 

2 


i8 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Dunmore,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  John  Connolly, 
promising  to  return  in  the  spring  and  complete  the 
treaty  with  the  Indians,  that  had  been  begun  at  Camp 
Charlotte.36  Twelve  Mingo  prisoners  were  left  in 
confinement  in  the  fort,  while  the  Shawnee  hostages 
accompanied  the  governor  to  Williamsburgh.  But 
by  the  spring  of  1775  the  American  Revolutionary 
movement  had  gained  such  force  in  Virginia  that  the 
governor  was  unable  to  revisit  the  frontiers,  or  treat 
further  with  the  Indian  tribes. 

Meanwhile  the  boundary  difficulty  between  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania  reached  an  acute  stage,  each  colony 
claimed  jurisdiction  of  the  forks  of  the  Ohio,  and  re¬ 
prisals  were  alternately  made  upon  the  magistrates  of 
each  colony.  Affairs  reached  such  a  state  of  confu¬ 
sion  that  in  July  the  delegates  of  both  colonies,  assem¬ 
bled  in  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  ad¬ 
dressed  a  friendly  letter  to  the  inhabitants  west  of 
Laurel  Hill,  advising  them  to  lay  aside  their  unhappy 
differences  and  co-operate  for  the  defense  of  Ameri¬ 
can  liberties.37 

West  Augusta,  Virginia,  organized  at  Pittsburgh, 
May  16,  a  committee  of  correspondence  to  keep  in 
touch  with  a  standing  committee  of  seven  members  to 
care  for  American  interests  in  that  part  of  the  country, 
and  sent  delegates  to  the  two  Virginia  conventions  in 
March  and  July.  The  same  day  Westmoreland 
County,  Pennsylvania,  organized  at  Hannastown,  and 

36  Ibid.,  pp.  301-306,  386. — Ed. 

37  This  letter  is  found  in  Amer.  Archives ,  4th  series,  ii, 
p.  1723. — Ed. 


AT  FORT  PITT 


19 


subscribed  to  the  Association.38  Although  the  bound¬ 
ary  difference  was  not  settled  until  1780,  the  patriots 
of  both  colonies  seem  to  have  suspended  their  animosi¬ 
ties  in  the  common  struggle  for  liberty. 

Although  American  born,  Major  Connolly  adhered 
to  the  Royalist  side.  In  February  he  visited  Will- 
iamsburgh39  and  had  a  conference  with  Dunmore,  who 
instructed  him  to  secure  the  Indians  for  the  king,  and 
induce  them  to  espouse  His  Majesty’s  cause.  On  his 
return  to  Fort  Pitt,  Connolly  sent  -runners  to  the  Dela¬ 
ware  towns,  inviting  the  chiefs  to  come  in  and 
receive  the  prisoners  and  such  messages  as  might  be 
sent  them  by  the  royal  governor.  Sometime  in  June 
the  Delaware  chiefs  and  a  few  of  the  Mingo  visited 
Pittsburgh.  According  to  Connolly’s  own  report  they 
gave  assurances  that  they  would  support  the  king, 
and  in  comfirmation  thereof  received  presents  and 
a  belt  of  wampum.  Connolly  intimates  that  he 
outwitted  the  patriot  faction,  who  were  led  to  approve 
his  negotiations  with  the  Indians  without  understand¬ 
ing  their  purport.40  To  a  neighboring  magistrate  he 
admitted  that,  to  secure  a  confirmation  of  his  lands,41 
he  was  planning  to  take  White  Eyes,  the  Delaware 
chief,  to  England. 


88  Ibid.,  pp.  613-615.— Ed. 

39  See  h\s  letter  to  Washington,  dated  “Winchester,  Febr. 
9th,  I775>”  in  S.  M.  Hamilton,  Letters  to  Washington  (Boston, 
1902),  v,  p.  101. — Ed. 

40  “A  Narrative  of  the  Transactions,  Imprisonment  and  Suf¬ 
ferings  of  John  Connolly,  an  American  Loyalist  and  Lieuten¬ 
ant  Colonel  in  His  Majesty’s  Service,”  in  Pennsylvania  Maga¬ 
zine  of  History  and  Biography,  xii,  pp.  315,  316.  See  the  re¬ 
port  at  the  Treaty  of  Pittsburgh,  post. — Ed. 

41  Letter  of  Arthur  St.  Clair,  July  12,  1775,  in  Pennsylvania 
Archives,  iv,  p.  637.-ED. 


20 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


In  July  Connolly,  still  acting  on  the  governor’s  or¬ 
ders,  disbanded  the  garrison  at  Pittsburgh,  and  ac¬ 
companied  by  three  Indian  chiefs  made  his  way  to¬ 
ward  Williamsburgh,  and  joined  Dunmore,  then  on 
board  of  a  British  man-of-war  off  York. 

The  final  session  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Bur¬ 
gesses  took  into  consideration  the  necessity  of  quiet¬ 
ing  the  Indians  on  the  frontier,42  and  appointed 
Thomas  Walker,  James  Wood,  Andrew  Lewis,  John 
Walker,  and  Adam  Stephen43  commissioners  to  ratify 
a  peace  with  the  tribesmen.  James  Wood  was  chosen 
to  visit  the  Indian  towns  and  give  notice  of  a  confer¬ 
ence  to  be  held  at  Pittsburgh  in  September.44 

42  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series,  ii,  p.  1209. — Ed. 

43  For  sketches  of  these  Virginians  see  Dunmore’s  War ,  pp. 
191,  242,  426-428.  Col.  John  Walker  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Thomas 
Walker.  Born  in  Albemarle  in  1744,  he  served  in  the  Revolu¬ 
tion,  was  captured  by  the  British,  and  later  served  as  United 
States  senator  from  Virginia  by  appointment  (MayHDec  ember, 
1790).  He  died  in  1809. — Ed. 

44  James  Wood  was  the  son  of  a  colonel  of  the  same  name, 
who  served  with  Washington  in  the  French  and  Indian  War, 
and  founded  the  Virginia  town  of  Winchester.  Born  in  1750, 
James  the  younger  served  as  captain  in  Dunmore’s  division  in 
1774;  the  following  year,  after  the  suspension  of  the  House 
of  Burgesses,  of  which  he  was  a  member  from  Frederick 
County,  he  made  a  hazardous  journey  to  the  Indian  towns. 
See  his  journal,  post.  In  1776  he  became  colonel  of  the  8th 
Virginia  regiment,  and  serving  through  the  war,  retired  with 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  In  1789,  he  was  one  of  the 
presidential  electors,  and  from  1796-99  was  governor  of  his 
state.  Noted  for  his  philanthropy  and  anti-slavery  principles, 
he  died  at  his  home  in  Winchester  in  1813. — Ed. 


VIRGINIA’S  PREPARATIONS 


21 


VIRGINIA  ARMS 

[Thomas  Lewis  to  Col.  William  Preston.  4QQ29  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Richd.  Augk  19th  1775. 

Dear  Sir — Tho  I  wrote  to  you  two  Days  Since 
least  miscarriage  should  Happen  I  have  now  Set 
Down  to  write  you  or  rather  to  repeat  the  Same  thing 

to  you  that  I  mentioned  before - yours  of  the 

8th  &  thirteen  July  Came  to  hand,  but  the  last  too 
late  to  be  before  hand  with  the  Fincastle  Petition 
however  they  were  both  presented  on  the  Same  Day.45 
A  Committee  was  appointed  to  Consider  the  matter, 
their  report  was  not  made  till  ye  15th  of  the  present 

month  &  is  as  Followeth  -  “The  Committee  to 

whom  the  Petitions  of  the  Committee  &  Surveyor,  of 
Fincastle,  &  a  proclamation  of  Ld.  Dunmore  Dated 
the  8th  May  1775,  were  refered  have  had  the  Same 
under  their  Consideration  &  Came  to  ye  Following 
Resolutions 

Resolved  that  untill  the  Committee  appointed  by 
the  Convention  in  March  last,  to  Enquire  whether  the 
King  may  of  Right  advance  the  terms  of  Granting 
Lands  in  this  Colony,  Shall  have  made  their  report, 
the  recommendation  then  made,  that  all  persons 
should  forbear  to  purchase  or  Accept  Grants  of  Land 
under  the  late  Instructions  from  the  Govr.  be  observed 
&  that  in  the  mean  time,  all  Surveyors  be  &  they  are 
hereby  Directed  to  make  no  Surveys  under  the  Said 
Instructions,  nor  pay  any  regard  to  the  Said  procla¬ 
mation. 

4 5  For  these  petitions  see  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series,  iii, 

p.  367.— Ed.  ,  ;l  .  7  !‘;i; 


22 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


I  Showed  your  Exculpatory  Letter  to  ye  Leading 
members,  no  blame  was  laid  or  attempted  to  be 
Charged  on  you.  The  Committee  of  last  march  being 
otherwise  Engaged,  had  not  reported,  &  could  not 
do  it  now  for  want  of  Some  Original  papers  &  Char¬ 
ters  that  Could  not  be  obtained  at  present,  but  it  is  to 
be  hoped  they  will  attend  to  this  matter  Soon  as  to 
what  passes  here  it  is  difficult  to  Say  with  Certainty 
not  an  Ordinance  is  yet  Compleated.  a  variety  yof 
opinions  retards  this  Buissiness.  1000  regulars  are 
voted  to  be.  Divided  into  two  Regiments,  the  Com¬ 
mander  Col0.  Henry  of  the  first  Wm  Woodford  of  the 
other,  Wm.  Christian  (of  whose  military  powers  much 
have  been  Said  here)  is  first  L.  Col°.  &  one  Scott  ye 

Second,  one  Eps  &  Spotswood  majors -  8000 

minuit  men  in  16  Batalions  are  to  trained  &  paid 
for  the  time  of  training  425  for  posts  on  the  Fron¬ 
tiers  viz  200  at  Pitsburg46  25  at  Wheeling,  100  at  ye 


46  August  7,  the  convention  resolved  that  “John  Neavill  be 
directed  to  march  with  his  Company  of  one  hundred  men,  and 
take  possession  of  Fort  Pitt ,  and  that  the  said  Company  be  in 
the  pay  of  this  Colony  from  the  time  of  their  marching/’ 

Capt.  John  Neville  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1731.  He  served 
with  Washington  on  Braddock’s  expedition,  and  afterwards 
settled  in  Winchester,  where  he  acted  as  sheriff.  Having  large 
landed  interests  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pittsburgh,  he  made 
his  home  on  Chartier’s  Creek,  and  was  a  delegate  chosen  by 
the  West  Augusta  people  to  represent  them  in  the  Virginia 
Convention  (1774)  ;  through  illness,  however,  he  was  unable 
to  attend.  The  company  that  he  marched  to  Pittsburgh  were 
largely  Frederick  County  militia.  Neville  remained  in  com¬ 
mand  until  June,  1777.  Being  then  made  colonel  of  the  4th 
Virginia  continental  regiment,  he  served  throughout  the  Revo¬ 
lution  in  the  Eastern  department.  After  the  war  he  returned 
to  his  Western  home,  being  chosen  jnember  of  the  supreme  ex¬ 
ecutive  council  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  inspector  of  revenue 
at  the  time  of  the  Whiskey  Rebellion  (1794),  during  which  dis- 


VIRGINIA’S  PREPARATIONS 


*3 


point  100  for  Fincastele,  these  last  &  very  Deservedly 
have  met  with  oposition,  many  Schemes  of  Jobing 
may  be  Discovered  here  but  this  is  no  new  thing — 
resolves  are  entred  into  for  ye  Encouragement  of 
making  Saltpeter,  Sulphur  [and]  Gunpowder 
The  Delegates  to  ye  Gen1  Congress  that  meet  next 
month  are  Pay  [ton].  Randolph,  B.  Harrison,  R.  H. 
Lee,  T.  Jefferson,  T.  Nelson,  F  L  Lee,  G°  Wythe.  A 
Committee  of  Safety  who  are  to  answer  to  the  Execu¬ 
tive  part  of  GovnF  Consisting  of  11  persons  are  ap¬ 
pointed  visz.  Ed  Pendelton,  G°  Mason,  Jn°  Page, 
Richd  Bland,  F.  L.  Lee,  Paul  Canrinton,  Dudley 
Diggs,  Wm  Cable  [Cabell],  Carter  Braxton,  James 
Mercer,  Jn°  Tabb.  An  Ordinance  is  in  great  for¬ 
wardness  for  paying  off  last  years  Expenses,  our 
proportion  of  the  Continental  army  to  ye  1th  [first] 
Janr.  150  000,  ye  Regulars  minute  men  militia  &c  &c 
&c  will  leave  us  at  ye  End  of  the  year  in  a  Debt  not 
easily  Discharged,  I  perhaps  put  it  too  much  in  my 
former  Letter,  it  however  will  be  very  Great,  The 
Colony  [ies]  are  by  Congress  Divided  into  three  Dis¬ 
tricts  for  ye  Conveniency  of  treating  with  the  Indians 
&  Gentlemen  appointed  for  that  purpose.47  Carlton 

turbance  his  house  was  sacked  and  he  subjected  to  much  vio¬ 
lence.  He  died  on  Montour’s  Island  in  1803. — Ed. 

47  July  12th,  1775,  the  Continental  Congress  determined  to 
organize  three  departments  for  Indian  affairs,  of  which  the 
Pittsburgh  and  Western  Virginia  region  constituted  the  cen¬ 
tral.  1  he  next  day  commissioners  were  chosen  for  that  de¬ 
partment  in  the  persons  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  Patrick  Henry, 
and  Tames  Wilson.  In  September  following,  Lewis  Morris 
was  appointed  in  the  place  of  Franklin,  who  was  unable  to 
attend,  to  conduct  the  treaty  at  Pittsburgh ;  and  Dr.  Thomas 
Walker  was  chosen  in  the  place  of  Patrick  Henry,  who  de¬ 
clined  the  commissionership.  These  three  congressional  com- 


24 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


has  been  Labouring  with  the  Canadians  to  assist  him 
in  Disstressing  the  Coloneys  but  has  not  been  very 
Successful!,  there  is  great  reason  to  believe  the  New 
Englanders  under  Gen1  Schuyler  is  in  possession  of 
Montreal,  &  Niagra  by  this  time,  the  Canadians  are 
Said  to  wish  this,  if  so  it  will  be  an  Easy  Acquisition 
as  Carlton  has  not  above  600  troops  to  opose  to  our 
army,  however  this  may  be,  you  may  depend  an  Army 
attempts  it. 

as  to  other  news  ye  paper  will  Inform  you  all  I  can 
say,  I  wis  [h]  you  all  Hapiness  &  am  Dr  Sir 

Your  most  Humble  Ser1 

Thos  Lewis48 

monday  21th  The  Ordinance  for  the  regular 
troops  the  minit  men  &  militia  passed  as  well 
as  that  for  Seteling  the  Articles  of  War  passed 
this  day  &  was  Despatched  to  ye  press  An 
Ordinance  for  a  Committee  of  Safety,  And  one  for 
regulating  various  Elections  will  be  Completed  this 
Day  &  to  morrow  One  for  paying  of  Last  years 
Excise  &  raising  or  striking  money  &  the  means  of 
Sinking  the  Same  is  in  Some  forwardness,  it  is  to 
be  hoped  this  week  will  put  an  End  to  this  Session 
of  which  (between  [us])  I  am  heartily  Sick 

To  Col.  William  Preston 

missioners  (Wilson,  Morris,  and  Walker)  proceeded  to  Pitts¬ 
burgh,  where,  in  connection  with  the  delegates  chosen  by  Vir¬ 
ginia  for  the  same  purpose  they  conducted  the  required  nego¬ 
tiations. — Ed. 

48  For  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  Thomas  Lewis  see 
Dunmore’s  War,  p.  312,  note  30. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


25 


TREATY  AT  PITTSBURGH,  1775 

[Original  Ms.  in  possession  of  Dr.  William  C.  Rives,  Wash¬ 
ington,  D.  C.,  a  descendant  of  Dr.  Thomas  Walker.]49 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  Appointed  by 
the  Honorable  the  Convention  of  the  Colony  of  Vir¬ 
ginia  for  holding  a  Treaty  with  the  Western  Indians 


49  The  following  complete  text  of  the  treaty  negotiations  at 
Pittsburgh  in  the  autumn  of  1775,  is  furnished  us  by  the  cour¬ 
tesy  of  Dr.  William  Cabell  Rives,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  into 
whose  possession  the  manuscript  came  with  others  belonging 
to  Dr.  Thomas  Walker,  from  whom  he  is  directly  descended. 
Dr.  Walker  was  the  chairman  of  the  Virginia  treaty  commis¬ 
sion,  and  one  of  the  three  congressional  commissioners.  He 
appears  to  have  been  entrusted  with  the  full  minutes  of  the 
treaty,  also  with  James  Wood’s  diary  of  his  journey  to  sum¬ 
mon  the  tribesmen  thither.  The  report  of  the  treaty  does  not 
appear  to  have  before  been  printed  in  its  entirety.  In  1847 
Lyman  C.  Draper  visited  Castle  Hill,  the  ancestral  home  of 
the  Walker-Rives  family  in  Albemarle  County,  and  was  per¬ 
mitted  by  the  then  owner  to  inspect  this  manuscript,  which  he 
found  “very  neatly  written  and  having  the  autograph  signatures 
of  the  Virginia  commissioners.” — Draper  MSS.,  5C28.  Draper 
made  copious  extracts. 

John  J.  Jacobs,  author  of  Biographical  Sketch  of  Captain 
Michael  Cresap  (Cumberland,  1826),  was  in  possession  of  a 
copy  of  the  manuscript  minutes  of  this  treaty,  furnished  him 
by  John  Madison,  secretary  of  the  Virginia  commissioners. 
The  excerpts  which  Jacobs  made  for  his  work  (pp.  69-71)  are 
all  that  have  been  published  therefrom.  The  present  editors, 
noting  Draper’s  citation  from  the  original  document,  entered 
into  correspondence  with  the  Rives  family,  and  found  that  they 
had  preserved  this  important  manuscript  entire,  and  in  the 
condition  that  Draper  found  it  in  1847.  Dr.  Rives  exercised 
the  greatest  care  that  the  transcript  should  be  exact  in  every 
particular,  and  has  shown  much  interest  in  its  present  publi¬ 
cation.  He  also  informs  us  that  Mrs.  William  C.  Rives,  in  “A 
Tale  of  our  Ancestors,”  published  in  her  book,  Tales  and  Sou¬ 
venirs  of  a  Residence  in  Europe  (1842),  uses  the  names  of 
several  Indian  chiefs,  which  she  doubtless  obtained  from  the 
original  of  this  manuscript.  The  editors  consider  themselves 
fortunate  in  being  able  to  place  before  their  readers  the  full 
text  of  a  negotiation  fraught  with  such  consequences  to  the 
Revolution  in  the  West. — Ed. 


26 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


September  the  Twelfth  One  Thousand  Seven  Hun¬ 
dred  and  Seventy  five . 

The  Indians  not  being  Arrived  and  the  Commis¬ 
sioners  being  Informed  they  were  [on]  their  Road 
thought  proper  to  dispatch  Mr  John  Gibson50  with 
the  Indian  Allaniwisica  with  the  following  talk  to 
meet  and  hasten  them 

Young  Brothers  Cheifs  and  Wariors  of  the  differs 
ent  Tribes  of  Indians  on  your  Way  to  the  Treaty  at 
Fort  Pitt  We  the  Commissioners  of  the  Long  Knife 
sent  to  treat  with  you  our  Brothers  to  the  Westward 
have  been  Waiting  at  Pittsburgh  the  place  we  Ap¬ 
pointed  several  days  and  are  very  impatient  to  see 
you  we  have  sent  John  Gibson  and  our  Young 
Brother  Allaniwisica51  to  meet  you  on  your  Road  to 
desire  you  will  come  up  as  soon  as  you  can  that  we 
may  see  you  and  brighten  the  Chain  of  Freindship 
which  we  both  now  have  hold  of  we  have  many 
good  things  to  say  to  you  when  we  meet  and  shall 
send  Provisions  to  meet  you  at  Logs  Town52  Should 

50  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Gibson,  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  n, 
note  19. — Ed. 

61  Probably  the  same  Indian  as  the  one  more  frequently 
called  Elinipisco,  a  son  of  Cornstalk,  who  participated  in  Dun- 
more’s  War.  In  November,  1 777,  he  visited  Fort  Randolph, 
where  his  father  was  already  in  custody,  and  was  killed  by  a 
mob  of  vengeful  frontiersmen. — Ed. 

52  Logstown  was  an  important  Indian  site,  about  eighteen 
miles  below  Pittsburgh,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river.  Its 
French  name  was  Chiningue,  Anglicized  as  Shenango.  This 
was  originally  a  Shawnee  village,  but  gradually  became  a 
large  mixed  town — an  important  trading  site.  Conrad  Weiser 
made"  a  treaty  here  in  1748;  in  consequence  whereof  the  French 
expedition  under  Celoron,  the  following  year,  found  the  vil¬ 
lage  chiefly  in  the  English  interest.  Croghan  also,  in  1751, 
traded  and  treated  here.  Washington  stopped  at  Logstown 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


you  have  heard  E[vil]  Reports  from  any  person  we 
desire  you  will  not  beleive  them  but  be  Assured  our 
hearts  are  good  towards  you  A  String  of  White 
Wampum 


September  15th,  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Commissioners 
as  well  those  Appointed  by  the  Honorable  the  Con¬ 
tinental  Congress  as  those  Appointed  by  the  Colony 
of  Virginia  Thomas  Walker  Esqr  in  the  Chair 

A  string  of  Wampum  and  Talk  was  delivered  from 
the  White  Mingo53  to  the  Commissioners  by  Capn 
James  Wood  one  of  the  Virginia  Commissioners  who 
received  it  from  Mr.  Dorsey  Penticost54  by  whom  it 
was  sent  importing  that  he  had  been  shot  at  by  two 
Men  in  long  white  hunting  Shirts  near  the  Mouth  of 
Pine  Greek55  with  an  Intention  as  he  Imagined  to 
kill  him  that  being  greatly  alarmed  and  Supposing 
all  the  Indians  near  this  place  were  Murdered  he 
kept  himself  hid  that  day  and  Night  in  the  Woods 


on  his  embassy  of  1753 ;  but  by  the  following  year  the  French 
had  gained  complete  ascendency.  They  built  for  the  In¬ 
dians  a  village  of  log  huts,  where,  in  1758,  Post  succeeded  in 
gaining  a  hearing  for  the  English  cause.  After  the  fall  of 
Fort  Duquesne  (1758)  this  village  was  abandoned,  but  Pon¬ 
tiac’s  conspiracy  being  ended,  its  former  possessors  gradually 
came  back  for  trade.  John  Gibson  had  his  chief  trading 
house  at  this  site,  and  Washington  mentions  it  in  the  diary  of 
his  journey  in  1770.  By  1784  the  site  was  abandoned.  It  is 
now  part  of  Economy  township. — Ed. 

53  White  Mingo  was  a  Seneca  chief,  who  lived  not  far  above 
Pittsburgh  on  the  Allegheny.  His  signature  appeared  on 
Bouquet’s  treaty  (1764),  and  he  died  before  1777. — Ed. 

54  For  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  Dorsey  Pentecost  see 
Dunmore’s  War ,  p.  101,  note  47. 

56  Pine  Creek  flows  into  the  Allegheny  from  the  northwest, 
where  the  town  of  Sharpsburg  now  stands. — Ed. 


28 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


where  finding  all  things  Quiet  he  Ventured  to  his 
Camp  and  finding  his  family  safe  went  to  Col0  Crog- 
bans50  from  where  he  sent  the  String  and  talk 
Resolved  that  Capn  James  Wood  Mir.  John  Walker 
Mr.  George  Morgan  and  Mr.  Lewis  Morris  take  with 
them  Simon  Girty  and  John  Montour  for  Interpre¬ 
ters57  and  visit  the  White  Mingo  that  they  go  with 
him  to  the  Place  where  he  says  he  was  shot  at  and 
report  to  this  Meeting  whatever  they  can  discover 
concerning  this  Affair  Resolved  that  a  String  of 
White  Wampum  and  the  following  talk  be  delivered 
the  White  Mingo  by  the  above  Mentioned  Gentlemen 
Brother  the  White  Mingo  We  have  heard  with 
very  great  Greif  and  concern  your  Message  informing 
us  that  the  day  before  Yesterday  you  were  shot  at 
by  two  Men  in  long  White  hunting  Shirts  they  must 
have  been  very  bad  People  indeed  you  know  there 
are  some  such  in  all  Nations  but  you  ought  not  to 


56  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Col.  George  Croghan  see  Dunmore’s 
War ,  p.  7,  note  12. — Ed. 

57  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Simon  Girty  see  Ibid.,  p.  152, 
note,  4. 

John  Montour  was  the  son  of  Andrew,  the  famous  half- 
breed  interpreter  who  accompanied  Weiser  and  Washington 
on  their  Western  journeys  and  who  was  captain  in  the  French 
and  Indian  War.  John’s  mother  was  the  granddaughter  of 
the  Delaware  chief  Olumpias,  and  in  her  right  he  was  con¬ 
sidered  a  Delaware  chief.  He  was  born  in  1744,  probably  near 
Pittsburgh.  When  twelve  years  of  age  his  father  took  him  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  educated  at  the  expense  of  the 
state.  He  was  with  Dunmore  in  1774,  and  adhered  to  the 
colonists’  cause  during  the  Revolution,  although  his  fidelity 
was  more  than  once  doubted.  In  1782  Montour  received  a 
captain’s  commission,  and  as  late  as  1789  was  living  on 
Montour’s  island.  This  island,  now  known  as  Neville,  is  five 
miles  below  Pittsburgh;  it  is  five  miles  in  length,  the  largest 
of  the  islands  in  the  upper  river. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


29 


judge  of  the  Sentiments  and  Conduct  of  your  Brothers 
the  White  People  from  those  of  a  few  Wretches 
among  them  we  will  do  every  thing  in  our  Power 
to  discover  who  have  done  this  very  Wicked  Act  We 
will  offer  a  very  large  Reward  for  finding  them  out 
and  bringing  them  to  us  and  so  soon  as  they  shall  be 
found  we  will  take  Care  that  they  be  imprisoned  and 
Otherwise  Punished  as  they  Ought  to  be  They  must 
have  been  Enemies  to  us  as  well  as  to  you  Otherwise 
they  would  not  have  done  any  thing  to  create  Jeal¬ 
ousy  between  us  but  we  hope  this  Message  and  the 
String  will  Effectually  remove  it  you  may  return  to 
us  with  Safety  and  we  Shall  be  glad  to  take  you  by 
the  hand. 

Molly  Hickman  a  Delaware  Woman58  Appearing 
before  the  Commissioners  informs  that  last  Night 
about  Midnight  as  a  Mingo  Man  and  a  Shawanese 
Man  was  Walking  near  the  Orchard  there  were  four 
or  five  White  Men  following  them  in  close  Conversa¬ 
tion  that  the  Mingo  Man  Understanding  what  they 
said  Acquainted  the  other  they  were  threatning  them 
&  they  had  best  make  thier  Escape  upon  which  they 
Separated  and  run  off  and  the  White  Men  pursued 
them  but  they  got  over  the  River  one  Some  distance 
above  and  the  other  at  the  Lower  end  of  the  Orchard 
that  the  Mingo  Man  went  off  Early  this  Morning 
that  the  Shawanese  were  still  there  but  Apprehend¬ 
ing  they  would  share  the  same  fate  with  some  of  the 
Delawares  last  Year 


58  For  other  Delaware  Indians  of  this  name,  one  of  whom 
acted  as  escort  and  interpreter  for  Frederick  Post  in  1758,  see 
Th waites,  Early  Western  Travels,  i,  pp.  220,  227,  235. — Ed. 


30 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Doctor  Walker  Col0  Morris  Col°  Lewis  Col0  Steph¬ 
en  and  Col°  Wilson  went  over  to  the  Indian  Camp 
to  enquire  into  the  truth  of  the  above  report  and 
found  that  the  Indians  had  Misapprehended  the  White 
People  from  their  small  Acquaintance  with  the  Lan¬ 
guage 


September  16th  The  Gentlemen  Appointed  to 
Visit  the  White  Mingo  made  the  following  Report  In 
Obedience  to  the  Order  of  Yesterday  the  persons  Ap¬ 
pointed  to  visit  the  White  Mingo  immediately  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  discharge  their  trust  they  were  met  by 
the  White  Mingo  at  the  Waterside  where  he  Ac¬ 
costed  them  thus  “When  I  first  saw  you  coming  I 
was  Affraid  and  had  thoughts  of  running  away”  he 
Appeared  to  be  Quite  Calm  and  Shewed  no  Symp¬ 
toms  of  fear  from  thence  they  went  to  his  House 
and  after  resting  awhile  delivered  the  Message  and 
string  to  which  he  gave  the  following  Answer  “I 
thank  my  old  Brother  of  Virginia  Pennsylvania  &c 
for  their  enquiry  into  this  Matter  when  I  was  first 
fired  on  I  thought  it  was  the  Act  of  some  inconsid¬ 
erate  foolish  People  and  did  not  imagine  the  Great 
People  knew  any  thing  of  it  I  thank  God  that  he 
has  been  pleased  to  frustrate  their  designs  and  has 
permitted  me  to  live  a  little  longer  I  am  perfectly 
satisfied  and  not  the  least  uneasy”  they  went  to  the 
place  where  he  said  he  was  fired  at  after  some 
search  found  his  Blanket  and  hat  about  One  hundred 
and  twenty  Yards  from  the  Spot  they  could  not  see 
where  the  Ball  struck  and  he  said  he  never  heard 


Col.  George  Morgan 


From  a  silhouette  in  the  possession  of  his  great  -grand¬ 
daughter,  Mrs.  Helena  C.  Beatty  of  Washington,  Pa 
Reproduced  by  permission,  from  Bailsman’s  History 
of  Beaver  County,  Pa  (New  York.  1904) 


t 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


31 


it  they  then  invited  him  to  come  to  Town  with  them 
if  he  was  uneasy  in  his  mind  he  said  he  was  not  un¬ 
easy  and  would  come  to  Town  to  morrow  *  when  they 
came  to  his  House  his  wife  was  Just  returned  from 
Horse  Hunting  in  the  same  Woods  as  they  went  they 
met  with  Coyashotas  two  Wives  and  another  Squa 
coming  from  the  same  place  who  showed  no  sign  of 
fear  (Signed) 

James  Wood 

John  Walker 


The  White  Mingo  in  Answer  to  the  Message  from 
the  Commissioners  desired  to  return  his  thanks  to 
them  for  sending  it  and  to  us  as  the  Bearers  he  re¬ 
peated  nearly  what  he  had  heard  and  said  it  should 
not  make  him  Angry  or  Uneasy  that  he  Attributed 
it  to  some  bad  people  only  and  that  he  would  come 
to  the  fort  tomorrow  he  shewed  us  the  Ground  where 
he  said  he  was  shot  at  and  the  Place  where  he  threw 
away  his  hat  and  Blanket  both  of  which  we  found  but 
no  mark  of  a  ball  tho  the  tracts  of  a  Man  in  Mocasins 

were  to  be  seen  where  he  said  the  Man  shot  from 

\ 

(Signed)  George  Morgan59 


59  George  Morgan,  son  of  Evan,  was  born  in  Philadelphia 
in  1742,  and  while  a  young  man  joined  the  firm  o*  Baynton, 
Wharton  &  Co.,  well-known  Indian  traders,  and  in  1764 
married  a  daughter  of  Baynton.  The  firm  lost  heavily  by 
Pontiac’s  conspiracy,  for  which  they  were  recompensed  at  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  (1768).  This  grant  laid  the  founda¬ 
tion  of  the  Indiana  Company,  for  which  Morgan  was  secre¬ 
tary  and  agent  many  years.  Morgan  early  visited  the  Indian 
country,  and  made  himself  popular  with  the  tribesmen — a 
voyage  to  the  Illinois  and  down  the  Mississippi  as  early  as  1766 
being  recorded.  In  1768  he  was  living  in  the  Illinois,  but  left 
there  some  time  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution.  His 


32 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


The  White  Mingo  upon  the  Speeches  being  inter¬ 
preted  to  him  returned  thanks  to  his  Brother  of  the 
Big  knife  and  his  Brothers  of  New  York  and  Penn¬ 
sylvania  for  their  kind  speech  he  said  he  was  [now] 
Easy  in  his  own  Mind  as  to  their  being  Unfreindly 
to  him  or  having  any  design  to  injure  him  that  he  sup¬ 
posed  they  were  some  evil  minded  persons  who  wanted 
to  make  a  breach  between  the  People  of  his  Colour  and 
his  White  Brothers  but  he  thanked  God  that  he  had 
rescued  him  from  the  hands  of  such  Villians  and  per¬ 
mitted  him  to  live  a  little  longer  with  regard  to  his 
being  fired  upon  he  says  that  on  Wednesday  as  he 
was  paddling  down  the  River  a  bullet  struck  just  by 
him  which  he  did  not  conceive  to  be  fired  at  him  at 
that  time  but  thought  it  was  some  person  a  hunting 
had  carelessly  fired  that  way  that  he  landed  and  met 
with  two  Men  Cloathed  in  White  hunting  Shirts  with 
Guns  upon  their  Shoulders  that  he  went  up  to  them 
in  a  freindly  Manner  and  offered  to  shake  hands  with 


appointment  by  Congress  in  April,  1776,  as  Indian  agent  for 
the  Middle  Department  brought  him  again  to  Pittsburgh, 
where  he  remained  in  this  capacity  until  his  resignation  in 
the  spring  of  1779.  He  then  rejoined  the  Eastern  army, 
wherein  he  attained  the  rank  of  colonel.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  settled  in  Princeton,  N.  J.,  there  becoming  a  leading 
citizen  and  a  trustee  of  the  college.  In  1788-89,  Morgan  was 
occupied  with  a  plan  for  settling  a  colony  on  the  Spanish  side 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  founded  there  the  settlement  of  New 
Madrid.  Having  failed  to  secure  proper  authorization  from 
the  Spanish  authorities,  the  proposed  colony  was  abandoned. 
In  1796  Morgan  removed  to  Washington  County,  Pa., 
where  he  built  an  estate  called  “Morganza.”  There  the  Aaron 
Burr  plot  was  first  detected  and  reported.  Morgan  died  at  his 
Western  home  in  1810.  His  Indian  name  was  “Taimenend.” 
Dr.  Samuel  P.  Hildreth  of  Marietta,  Ohio,  once  possessed 
Morgan’s  journals,  and  published  extracts  therefrom  in  his 
Pioneer  History  (Cincinnati,  1848). — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


33 


them  and  that  they  passed  on  without  taking  any  No¬ 
tice  of  him  that  he  then  began  to  suspect  that  the 
Bullet  was  Aimed  at  him  and  that  something  had  hap¬ 
pened  to  his  freinds  below  that  he  walked  along  the 
Bank  and  discovered  a  great  Many  White  People  and 
that  he  was  then  sure  that  something  had  happened 
and  turned  back  to  his  Cabin  that  as  he  was  descend¬ 
ing  a  hill  in  the  Wood  he  saw  two  Men  dressed  in 
the  same  Manner  as  those  he  had  seen  before  and  that 
he  Observed  one  of  them  presented  at  him  that  he 
immediately  turned  about  and  run  upon  which  the 
Man  fired  and  that  he  did  not  return  to  his  Cabin  un¬ 
til  some  time  on  Thursday  that  the  White  Mingo 
went  with  us  to  the  Place  where  he  said  he  was  fired 
at  and  Shewed  us  the  Place  where  he  stood  and  the 
Man  who  fired  at  him  that  I  saw  the  steps  of  the 
White  Mingo  and  that  Capn  Wood  as  I  Understand 
saw  the  Prints  of  the  two  Men  that  we  found  the 
Matchcoat  and  hat  which  he  dropped  and  returned 
them  to  him 

(Signed)  Lewis  Morris  Jun60 

Pittsburgh  Septr.  16^  1775 

Resolved  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  Indians  to 
encamp  near  to  each  other  and  that  each  Incampment 


60  Lewis  Morris,  of  the  famous  New  York  family  of  that 
name,  was  born  in  1726  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  twenty 
years  later.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  joined  the 
patriot  cause,  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1775,  and  made  a 
commissioner  of  Indian  affairs.  In  that  capacity  he  visited 
Pittsburgh,  and  held  the  treaty  of  1775.  In  1776  he  was  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  retir¬ 
ing  from  Congress  served  in  the  New  York  legislature 
(1777-78),  and  in  the  state  militia,  where  he  attained  the  rank 
of  major-general.  He  died  at  Morrisania  in  1708. — Ed. 

3 


34 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


with  the  Approbation  of  the  Commissioners  make 
Choice  of  an  Interpreter  to  stay  O’Nights  to  inform 
the  Commissioners  the  names  of  such  White  Persons 
who  shall  go  among  them  to  disturb  them 

Resolved  that  Advertisements  be  set  up  in  the  Most 
Public  Places  ofering  a  reward  of  Two  Hundred  Dol¬ 
lars  to  any  person  or  persons  who  shall  discover  the 
two  Men  or  either  of  them  that  Shot  at  the  White 
Mingo  on  Wednesday  last 

Captain  James  Wood  reported  his  Journal  in  his 
late  Expedition  to  invite  the  Indians  to  this  Treaty 
Ordered  that  the  said  Journal  be  Copied  in  these  Pro¬ 
ceedings  which  is  as  follows 

Diary  1775 

24th  June  the  Honorable  the  Council  and  House  of 
Burgesses  Appointed  George  Washington  Thomas 
Walker  James  Wood  Andrew  Lewis  John  Walker 
and  Adam  Stephen  Esquires  Commissioners  for  hold¬ 
ing  a  Treaty  with  the  Ohio  Indians  impowering  the 
Treasurer  to  pay  the  Expence  Accruing  provided  the 
same  did  not  Exceed  the  sum  of  £2,000  the  Evening 
of  the  same  day  the  Commissioners  were  Informed 
that  the  House  directed  them  not  to  Apply  more  than 
One  Thousand  Pounds  towards  the  Negotiation  at 
the  same  time  they  directed  me  to  proceed  immedi¬ 
ately  to  the  different  Tribes  of  Indians  as  well  to  give 
them  an  Invitation  to  a  Treaty  as  to  remove  any  bad 
impressions  which  might  be  made  by  Chenusaw61  one 
of  the  Shawanese  Indians  who  had  Escaped  from 

C1  Chenusaw  was  one  of  the  hostages  taken  by  Dunmore, 
after  the  treaty  of  Camp  Charlotte;  see  Dunmore' s  War, 
p.  305-— Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


35 


Williamsburg  Upon  my  Appointment  to  this  Service 
I  moved  the  house  to  know  how  far  I  was  to  go  in  an 
Explanation  of  the  disputes  with  Great  Britain  in 
Case  the  Indians  should  make  any  Enquirey  into  that 
Matter  which  I  was  well  assured  they  would  Col0 
Bland  then  moved  the  House  that  I  should  be  directed 
to  Explain  the  whole  dispute  to  the  Indians  to  make 
them  sensible  of  the  Great  Unanimity  of  the  Colonies 
to  Assure  them  of  our  Peaceable  Intentions  towards, 
them  and  that  we  did  not  stand  in  need  of  or  desire 
any  Assistance  from  them  or  any  other  Nation  which 
Motion  was  agreed  to  by  the  House  Nemine  Contra- 
dicente 

25th  I  left  Williamsburg  and  proceeded  on  my 
Journey  having  stayed  three  days  at  home  in  prepar¬ 
ing  for  it 

9th  July  I  Arrived  at  Fort  Pitt  where  I  received 
Information  that  the  Cheifs  of  the  Delawares  and  a 
few  of  the  Mingoes  had  lately  been  Treating  with 
Major  Connolly  agreeable  to  Instructions  from  Lord 
Dunmore  and  that  Shawanese  had  not  come  to  the 
Treaty  agreable  to  their  Appointment  upon  Exam¬ 
ining  the  Proceedings  with  the  Delawares  and  Min¬ 
goes  I  found  that  they  had  been  given  assurances  that 
a  General  Treaty  would  be  soon  held  with  all  the  Ohio 
Indians  upon  which  I  thought  it  Adviseable  to  dis¬ 
patch  an  Express  to  the  Convention  with  the  follow¬ 
ing  Letter  directed  to  the  Honorable  Peyton  Ran¬ 
dolph  Esqr 

Sir — On  my  Arrival  at  this  Place  I  found  that 
Majr  Connolly  had  finished  a  Treaty  with  the  Delaware 
and  Mingo  Cheifs  who  had  assembled  agreable  to 


36 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Lord  Dunmores  Appointment  and  were  returned  well 
satisfied  with  Assurances  that  a  General  Treaty  would 
be  soon  held  with  them  and  the  Other  Ohio  Tribes  It 
seems  from  the  Governors  Instructions  to  Majr  Con¬ 
nolly  that  he  only  intended  a  few  of  the  Cheifs  should 
be  called  together  in  order  to  make  them  easy  till  a 
treaty  could  be  properly  negotiated  with  them  I  am 
now  waiting  to  see  the  Cornstalk  who  is  on  his  way 
and  is  Expected  here  tomorrow  or  the  next  day  the 
Reason  that  the  Shawanese  did  not  Attend  at  the 
Treaty  lately  held  is  not  known  but  generally  be- 
leived  to  be  owing  to  Two  French  Men  who  were  at 
their  Towns  and  desired  to  speak  to  the  Cheifs  of  that 
Nation  in  Council  as  soon  as  I  see  the  Cornstalk 
I  purpose  setting  off  for  the  Shawanese  Towns  in 
hopes  of  being  able  to  Counteract  any  diabolical 
Schems  formed  by  the  Enemies  of  this  Country  to  re¬ 
move  any  bad  Impressions  which  may  have  been  made 
on  the  Minds  of  these  Savages  and  to  Satisfy  them 
concerning  their  Hostages  from  thence  I  shall  pro¬ 
ceed  to  the  Wyandots  Towns62  where  it  is  said  the 

62  The  Wyandot  were  of  Huron-Iroquois  stock,  being  of 
the  sub-tribe  of  Tobacco-Huron,  or  Petun.  Nearly  destroyed 
by  the  Iroquois  in  the  early  seventeenth  century,  they  fled 
westward,  and  placing  themselves  under  French  protection, 
settled  about  Detroit  early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  Gradu¬ 
ally  they  straggled  eastward  along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Erie.  In  1747  one  band,  under  the  leadership  of  chief  Nicolas, 
built  a  town  at  Lower  Sandusky,  and  the  following  year  made 
an  alliance  with  the  English.  During  the  French  and  Indian 
War,  however,  the  Wyandot  adhered  to  the  French,  took  part 
in  Braddock’s  defeat,  and  joined  Pontiac’s  conspiracy.  A  few 
young  warriors  joined  the  Shawnee  in  Dunmore’s  War  but 
the  tribe  as  a  whole  held  aloof.  Their  towns  lay  along  the 
Sandusky  River,  and  throughout  the  Revolution  were  under 
the  influence  of  the  British  at  Detroit. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


37 


same  Frenchmen  have  lately  been  in  Council  with  that 
Nation  and  to  return  by  way  of  the  Delaware  and 
Mingo  Towns 

I  find  that  the  Indians  have  been  led  to  expect  a 
General  Treaty  and  that  they  would  as  Usual  receive 
Presents  upon  a  Compliance  with  the  Terms  imposed 
by  Lord  Dunmore  so  that  I  am  realy  Apprehensive 
we  shall  not  be  able  from  the  Sum  Allowed  by  the 
Assembly  to  make  the  different  tribes  a  Present  that 
will  Answer  their  Expectations  Considering  the  Ex¬ 
cessive  dearness  of  Provisions  in  this  part  of  the 
Country  and  the  high  Advance  we  must  Necessarily 
pay  for  Goods  from  the  Great  Scarcity  now  in  the 
Country  from  these  Considerations  I  would  beg  the 
Gentlemen  of  the  Convention  to  consider  whether  It 
would  not  be  adviseable  to  direct  the  whole  Sum  of 
Two  Thousand  Pounds  allowed  by  the  Resolve  of  the 
House  should  not  be  laid  Out  to  the  best  Advantage 
for  this  Necessary  purpose  I  am  well  Assured  it 
will  have  an  Exceeding  good  Effect  and  that  a  last¬ 
ing  peace  may  be  Established  with  all  the  Ohio  In¬ 
dians 

By  the  same  Express  that  brings  this  the  Commit¬ 
tee  of  West  Augusta  purpose  sending  to  their  Dele¬ 
gates  the  Proceedings  of  the  late  Treaty  held  with 
the  Delawares  and  Mingoes  together  with  a  Copy  of 
thir  Resolves  prior  to  the  Treaty  In  Justice  to  the 
Committee  (among  whom  are  Many  respectable  Char¬ 
acters)  I  must  beg  leave  to  Observe  that  they  have 
been  Attentive  to  the  Interest  of  their  Country  on  this 
important  Occasion  as  no  kind  of  provision  was 
made  by  Government  towards  providing  Necessaries 


38 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


for  the  Indians  who  were  Called  to  a  Council  by  the 
Governor  the  Committee  at  a  Considerable  Expence 
provided  a  Quantity  of  Provisions  with  a  present 
in  Goods  which  were  distributed  Among  the  Indians 
and  which  I  beleive  gave  them  General  Satisfaction 
on  the  other  hand  if  they  had  not  thus  taken  up  the 
Matter  the  Certain  Consequence  must  have  been  that 
the  Indians  would  have  returned  dissatisfied  and  a 
General  discontent  would  have  prevaled  among  the 
different  Tribes 

The  Committee  as  well  as  Major  Connollys  most  in¬ 
veterate  Enemies  all  agree  that  he  Conducted  this  Af¬ 
fair  in  the  Most  Open  and  Candid  Manner  that  it  was 
transacted  in  the  presence  of  the  Committee  and  that 
he  laid  the  Governors  Instructions  on  this  Occasion 
before  them  I  shall  be  Extremely  happy  if  my  poor 
Endeavours  on  this  or  any  future  Occasion  should  in 
the  smallest  Degree  Contribute  to  the  Service  of  my 
Country  I  have  the  honor  to  be  &c  as  soon  as  I  dis¬ 
patched  my  Letter  I  sent  for  White  Eyes03  and  Kill- 
buck04  Chiefs  of  the  Delawares  and  Kyashota05  and 


63  For  a  brief  sketch  of  White  Eyes  see  Dunmore’s  War , 
p.  29,  note  48. — Ed. 

64  Killbuck  was  a  grandson  of  King  Newcomer,  having 
been  born  at  the  Lehigh  Water  Gap  in  the  decade  between 
1730  and  1740.  He  removed  West  with  his  tribe,  and  was 
noted  for  his  friendship  with  the  whites  and  his  respect  for 
civilization.  About  1788  he  was  baptized  by  the  Moravians 
under  the  name  of  William  Henry,  and  lived  at  their  town 
of  Goshen  until  his  death  in  1811.  A  lineal  descendant  by  the 
name  of  Killbuck  is  today  a  missionary  in  Alaska. — Ed. 

65  Guyashusta  (Kiasola,  Kyashota)  was  the  principal  chief 
of  the  Six  Nations  on  the  Allegheny.  During  the  French  and 
Indian  War  he  was  hostile  to  the  English,  and  the  chief  con¬ 
spirator  on  the  Ohio  during  Pontiac’s  plot  (1763).  He  signed 
with  Bouquet  the  treaty  of  1764,  and  kept  it  loyally,  taking 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


39 


the  White  Mingo  Cheifs  of  the  Mingoes  and  delivered 
the  following  Speech  sent  by  Thomas  Walker  and 
Andrew  Lewis  Esqr  two  of  the  Commissioners  to  the 
Cheifs  and  Warriors  of  the  Shawanese  Wyandots 
Delaware  and  Mingo  Nations. 

Brothers  we  are  Appointed  by  your  elder  Broth¬ 
ers  of  Virginia  to  meet  you  in  Council  to  finish  the 
treaty  began  by  Lord  Dunmore  last  Year  we  hope 
to  put  an  End  to  all  differences  between  your  People 
and  ours  so  effectually  that  your  Children  and  ours 
may  live  in  the  Strictest  friendship  till  the  Sun  Shall 
shine  no  more  or  the  Waters  run  in  the  Ohio 

Brothers  your  Freind  Capn  James  Wood  who  is  Ap¬ 
pointed  one  of  the  Commissioners  on  this  Important 
Occasion  will  deliver  you  this  talk  by  whom  you  will 
be  informed  of  the  Imprudent  Behaviour  of  your 
Brother  Chenusaw  who  we  hope  has  got  safe  to  you 
before  this  the  Manner  in  which  he  went  from  us 
gives  us  reason  to  fear  he  may  give  you  some  alarming 
Accounts  but  we  hope  Cap11  Wood  will  satisfy  you  that  • 
we  are  your  freinds  and  have  been  kind  to  your  people 
the  Wolf66  and  Newau  will  come  with  us  to  the  Treaty 
at  Fort  Pitt  where  we  hope  to<  meet  you  on  the  tenth 
day  of  September  to  Compleat  this  great  Work  and 
must  request  you  to  give  Notice  to  all  your  Neighbour¬ 
ing  Nations  that  are  Concerned  we  desire  you  will 
bring  with  you  all  the  Prisoners  and  be  fully  prepared 

no  part  in  Dunmore’s  War  of  1774.  During  the  Revolution  he 
endeavored  to  maintain  neutrality,  dying  at  Cornplanter’s  vil¬ 
lage  on  the  Allegheny  about  1795. — Ed. 

66  The  Indian  name  of  the  Wolf,  another  hostage,  was  Cut- 
tena  (Cuttemwha). — Ed. 


40 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


in  every  respect  to  fulfil  your  agreement  with  Lord 
Dunmore  to  which  White  Eyes  Answered 

Brother  I  return  you  as  well  as  our  two  Brothers 
that  sent  it  thanks  for  the  good  talk  you  have  now  de¬ 
livered  us  and  you  may  depend  I  will  make  it  my 
business  to  send  the  String  now  delivered  to  me  to 
all  my  freinds  and  make  no  doubt  but  they  will  re¬ 
ceive  it  in  the  same  freindly  and  thankful  Manner  I 
do  The  White  Mingo  then  Spoke  as  follows 
Brother  I  am  very  thankful  to  you  and  your  two 
Brothers  in  Virginia  for  your  good  talk  and  String 
now  delivered  I  am  certain  It  will  give  all  my 
freinds  the  same  Pleasure  which  it  gives  me  to  meet 
you  at  the  time  Appointed  for  holding  the  treaty  at 
this  place  and  you  may  be  assured  they  shall  be  told 
of  it 

10th  July  White  Eyes  came  with  an  Interpreter  to 
my  Lodgings  he  informed  me  he  was  desirous  of 
going  to  Williamsburg  with  Major  Connolly  to  see 
Lord  Dunmore  who  had  promised  him  his  Interest  in 
procuring  a  Grant  from  the  King  for  the  Lands 
claimed  by  the  Delawares  that  they  were  all  desirous 
of  living  as  the  White  People  do  and  under  their  Laws 
and  Protection  that  Lord  Dunmore  had  engaged  to 
make  him  some  Satisfaction  for  his  Trouble  in  going 
several  times  to  the  Shawanese  Towns  and  serving 
with  him  on  Campaign  and  likewise  the  damage  he  has 
sustained  by  some  of  our  Men  Plundering  and  de¬ 
stroying  his  Effects  that  he  was  a  very  poor  Man 
and  had  Neglected  to  raise  Corn  by  endeavouring  to 
serve  us  and  that  his  wife  and  Childerin  were  now  al¬ 
most  starving  for  Bread  he  told  me  he  hoped  I 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


41 


would  advise  him  whether  It  was  proper  for  him  to 
go  or  not 

I  was  then  Under  the  Necessity  of  Acquainting 
him  with  the  disputes  subsisting  between  Lord  Dun- 
more  and  the  People  of  Virginia  and  engaged  when¬ 
ever  the  Assembly  met  that  I  would  go  with  him  to 
Williamsburg  and  represent  his  Case  to  the  Assembly 
and  made  no  doubt  they  would  Amply  reward  him 
for  his  Services  and  damages  sustained  he  was  very 
thankful  and  Appeared  perfectly  satisfied  with  the 
promise  I  made  him 

16th  July  the  Cornstalk  Nimwha67  Wryneck  Blue 
Jacket  Silver  Heels6S  and  about  fifteen  other  Shawan- 
ese  arrived  they  immediately  got  drunk  and  Contin¬ 
ued  in  that  situation  for  two  days 

18th  The  Shawanese  being  assembled  I  made  The 
following  Speech  to  them  Brothers  the  Shawanese 
I  am  now  on  my  way  to  your  towns  by  directions  of 
the  great  Council  of  Virginia  my  Business  is  to  give 

67  Nimwha  (or  Munseeka)  was  a  Shawnee  chief,  brother 
of  Cornstalk,  whom  he  succeeded  as  head  of  the  tribe.  He 
took  part  in  Pontiac’s  Conspiracy,  and  was  present  at  Bou¬ 
quet’s  treaty  (1764)  as  well  as  those  of  Fort  Pitt  (1768  and 
1775).  In  1778  he  led  the  detachment  that  captured  Daniel 
Boone,  and  the  following  year  headed  the  besiegers  of  Fort 
Laurens.  His  death  occurred  early  in  1780. — Ed. 

68  An  early  mention  of  these  two  noted  chiefs,  Blue  Jacket 
and  Silverheels.  Blue  Jacket  was  principal  chief  of  the 
Shawnee  during  the  Indian  wars,  defeated  Harmar  and  St. 
Clair,  and  was  defeated  by  Wayne  in  1794.  He  took  part  in 
the  treaty  of  Greenville,  and  soon  after  retired  to  the  neigh¬ 
borhood  of  Sandwich,  Ont.,  where  he  died  about  1810.  He 
was  said  to  have  been  appointed  a  brigadier-general  in  the 
British  service.  Silverheels  rescued  several  Pennsylvania 
traders  on  the  outbreak  of  Dunmore’s  War,  and  at  the  risk 
of  his  own  life  escorted  them  to  Pittsburgh.  While  in  a  fit  of 
intoxication,  he  was  killed  by  Indians. — Ed. 


42 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


the  Cheifs  of  your  Nation  an  Invitation  to  meet  Com¬ 
missioners  Appointed  by  them  in  a  general  Council  at 
Fort  Pitt  in  53  days  from  this  time  in  order  fully  to 
Confirm  the  peace  agreed  upon  last  year  with  Lord 
Dunmore  your  Brothers  Cuttemwha  and  Newau  are 
well  and  you  may  depend  upon  seeing  them  at  the 
time  Appointed  for  your  Meeting  about  forty  days 
ago  Chenusaw  left  us  without  any  provocation  that 
we  know  of  as  soon  as  we  found  he  was  gone  we 
dispatched  many  Men  on  horseback  with  Writen  pap¬ 
ers  directing  all  our  People  to  treat  him  kindley  and  to 
let  him  Pass  to  you  without  receiveing  any  hurt 
your  Brother  Cuttemwha  desired  me  to  tell  you  to  be 
Strong  and  to  come  at  the  time  which  I  Appoint 
A  String  of  White  Wampum 

I  then  delivered  Messrs  Walker  and  Lewis’s  speech 
with  a  String  of  Wampum  soon  after  which  Corn¬ 
stalk  made  the  following  Answer  Brothers  the  Bigr 
knife  I  am  greatly  oblidged  to  you  as  well  as  to  all 
my  Elder  Brothers  of  Virginia  for  their  good  talks 
and  Intentions  towards  their  Younger  Brothers  the 
Shawanese  I  look  upon  what  you  have  said  in  the 
Manner  as  if  delivered  by  your  great  Council  and  am 
as  happy  in  seeing  you  as  if  they  were  all  present  I 
shall  deliver  your  talks  to  the  Cheifs  on  my  return 
and  make  no  doubt  but  they  will  meet  you  at  the 
time  Appointed 

The  Cornstalk  after  delivering  the  speech  told  me 
he  thought  it  would  be  best  for  me  to  go  to  the  Shaw¬ 
anese  Towns  least  Chenusaw  should  return  and  make 
any  bad  reports  he  then  informed  me  that  some  of 
the  Shawanese  were  desirous  of  going  to  Winchester 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


43 


in  order  to  meet  their  freinds  Cuttemwha  and  Nea- 
wau  and  to  talk  with  our  trading  People  and  desired 
I  would  write  to  my  freinds  to  treat  them  kindly  I 
then  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  Committee  of 
Frederick 


Gentlemen — You  will  receive  this  by  Major  Con¬ 
nolly  with  him  three  of  the  Shawanese  Cheifs  pur¬ 
pose  going  to  Winchester  in  Order  to  see  their  freinds 
and  to  talk  with  some  of  our  Tradeing  people  if  the 
Hostages  should  not  yet  have  Arrived  I  would  beg 
leave  to  Recommend  that  an  Express  be  immediately 
dispatched  to  Doctor  Walkers  to  bring  them  up  as 
the  treatment  these  Indians  receive  will  be  taken  par¬ 
ticular  Notice  of  as  well  by  them  as  the  Whole  Na¬ 
tion  I  beg  the  Attention  of  the  Committee  on  this 
Occasion  I  am  &c 

at  5  o’Clock  this  afternoon  I  sett  off  from  Fort  Pitt 
with  Simon  Girty  an  Interpreter  encamped  ten  Miles 
below  on  the  River  Bank 

19th  July  sett  off  before  Sunrise  Crossed  Big 
Beaver  Creek  near  the  Mouth  travelled  about  45 
Miles  this  day  the  Course  nearly  West 
20th  Started  very  Early  met  Garret  Pendergrass69 
about  9  °’Clock  who  informed  us  that  he  left  the  Dela¬ 
ware  Towns  two  days  before  that  the  Delawares  were 

69  See  the  affidavit  of  Pendergrass  in  Virginia  Magazine  of 
History  and  Biography ,  xiii,  p.  423.  Garret  Pendergrass  set¬ 
tled  at  Harrodsburgh  in  Kentucky,  and  in  1776  was  commis¬ 
sioned  to  go  with  James  Harrod  on  a  mission  to  the  Indian 
towns.  In  March  28,  1777,  he  was  killed  and  scalped  by  prowl¬ 
ing  savages  within  sight  of  the  Harrodsburgh  fort. — Ed. 


44 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


just  returned  from  the  Wiandots  Towns  where  they 
had  been  at  a  Great  Council  with  the  French  and  Eng¬ 
lish  Officer  and  the  Wyandots  that  Monsuer  Baubee70 
and  the  English  Officer  told  them  to  be  upon  their 
Gaurd  that  the  White  People  intended  to  strike  them 
very  soon  that  tho’  their  fathers  the  French  were 
thrown  down  the  last  War  by  the  English  they  were 
now  got  up  again  and  much  Stronger  than  ever  and 
would  Assist  their  Childeren  (the  Indians)  as  they 
formerly  did  about  two  days  after  met  two  Delaware 
Squas  who  upon  interrogations  gave  the  same  Account 
travelled  about  forty  Miles  this  day  and)  encamped  on 
a  Small  run 

21st  July  started  very  Early  in  the  Morning  at 
one  O’Clock  arrived  at  the  Moravian  Indian  Town 


70  Duperon  Baby  (called  by  the  English  Baubee)  belonged 
to  a  prominent  Canadian  family,  one  branch  of  which  had  es¬ 
tablished  itself  in  trade  at  Detroit,  before  the  English  con¬ 
quest  After  that  event,  Baby  declined  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
and  desired  to  retire  to  France.  Having  changed  his  opinion, 
he  became  a  loyal  British  subject,  and  during  Pontiac's  con¬ 
spiracy  furnished  much  assistance  to  the  English  garrison. 
His  influence  with  the  Indians  was  large,  and  during  the 
Revolution  and  succeeding  Indian  wars  the  Detroit  command¬ 
ants  utilized  it  for  the  British  cause.  Baby  was  commissioned 
colonel  of  militia  and  deputy  Indian  agent,  with  a  large  salary, 
being  also  given  a  considerable  grant  of  land.  He  attended 
all  Indian  councils,  but  seldom  personally  went  on  the  war¬ 
path,  although  he  is  said  to  have  commanded  the  Detroit 
militia  in  the  campaign  against  Wayne  (1794).  Marrying 
Susanne  Reaume,  he  had  a  considerable  family.  One  daughter 
married  Col.  William  Caldwell,  and  a  daughter  by  an  Indian 
mother  married  Blue  Jacket.  His  son  James  became  promi¬ 
nent  in  British  councils,  and  served  in  the  War  of  1812-15. 
Upon  surrender  of  Detroit  to  the  Americans  (1796),  the  Baby 
family  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Windsor,  Ont.  Col. 
Duperon  Baby  died  about  the  time  of  this  removal. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


45 


Examined  the  Minister  (a  Dutchman)71  concerning 
the  Council  lately  held  with  the  Indians  by  the  French 
who  Confirmed  the  Accounts  before  related  six  Miles 
from  the  Moravian  Town  Passed  a  Small  Delaware 
Town  a  Delaware  Man  rode  with  us  to  New  Comers 
Town72>  where  we  Encamped  having  travelled  about 
30  Miles 

22d  July  set  ofif  Early  in  the  Morning  for  Kosh- 
ocktin  the  Cheif  Town  of  the  Delawares  Passed 
White  Eyes’  Town  about  10  o’Clock  Arrived  at 
Koshocktin  at  1  O’Clock  taken  to  the  Council 


71  Probably  Wood  was  now  at  Schonbrunn,  some  three 
miles  southeast  of  New  Philadelphia,  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio.  This  was  built  in  1772  by  mission  Indians,  largely  of 
the  Delaware  tribe,  but  was  deserted  in  1 777.  Reoccupied  in 
1779,  it  was  soon  abandoned  for  New  Schonbrunn,  on  the 
west  bank  of  Tuscarawas  River.  Another  Moravian  village, 
known  as  Gnadenhiitten  (tents  of  grace)  was  on  the  site  of 
the  present  Ohio  town  of  that  name.  The  senior  missionary 
in  charge  was  David  Zeisberger.  Born  in  Moravia  in  1721, 
his  parents  emigrated  to  Saxony  when  he  was  five  years  of 
age,  and  later  (1736)  to  Georgia,  where  their  son  followed 
them  in  1740.  After  three  years  of  work  among  the  Creek 
Indians,  Zeisberger  was  sent  to  Pennsylvania,  where  at 
Bethlehem  he  studied  Indian  languages,  fitting  for  his  future 
work.  He  passed  some  years  among  the  Iroquois,  but  finally 
became  identified  with  the  Delawares.  Their  migration  to  the 
Ohio  Valley  (1771-72)  was  arranged  by  him,  and  he  remained 
with  his  converts  in  the  vicissitudes  of  their  fate,  until  his 
death  in  1808  at  Goshen,  Ohio.  During  the  Revolution  he  at¬ 
tempted  to  maintain  neutrality,  but  aided  the  commandant  at 
Pittsburgh  with  frequent  and  important  information. — Ed. 

73  Newcomerstown  was  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Tuscara¬ 
was,  within  the  limits  of  the  present  town  of  that  name  in 
Tuscarawas  County.  It  was  the  chief  town  of  the  Delawares 
after  their  removal  to  the  Muskingum.  The  small  town  be¬ 
tween  that  and  Gnadenhiitten  may  have  been  Salem,  a  third 
Moravian  town,  near  the  present  village  of  that  name. — Ed. 


46 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


House73  found -Many  of  the  Indians  drunk  and  King 
New  Comer  a  Sleep74  waked  the  King  at  Dark  and 
Delivered  the  following  speech  to  him  in  the  Presence 
of  Winganum75  Young  Killbuck  and  a  Number  of 
other  Warriours  Brothers  the  Delawares  your  El¬ 
der  Brothers  in  Virginia  in  their  Great  Council  have 
Appointed  me  to  come  to  this  Place  in  Order  to  As¬ 
sure  you  that  their  hearts  are  good  towards  you  that 
they  are  desirous  of  brightning  the  Antient  Chain 
of  Freindship  between  you  and  them  and  for  which 
they  have  Appointed  Commissioners  to  meet  you  and 
the  other  Nations  in  a  General  Council  at  Fort  Pitt 
in  [blank  in  MS.]  days  from  this  time  when  they  will 
be  glad  to  meet  the  Cheifs  of  your  Nation  and  will 
use  their  best  Endeavours  to  give  you  a  hearty  Wel¬ 
come 

Brothers  I  have  heard  with  great  Concern  that 

73  Coshocton  (Indian  name  Goschachgunk)  lay  in  the  forks 
of  the  Muskingum  and  Tuscarawas  on  the  north  side  of  the 
latter  stream.  It  was  built  about  1775  and  was  composed  of 
log-houses  and  a  large  council-house  ranged  along  a  regular 
street,  and  forming  a  considerable  village.  It  was  the  chief 
town  of  the  Turtle  clan  of  the  Delawares,  and  the  capital  of 
the  tribe  until  its  destruction  by  Brodhead  in  1781.  White 
Eyes’s  Town  lay  on  a  plain  some  ten  miles  south  of  the  Tus¬ 
carawas,  and  east  of  Coshocton. — Ed. 

74  Newcomer  (or  Netawatwes)  was  principal  chief  of  the 
Delawares,  succeeding  Beaver  in  that  office  about  1772.  He 
had  formerly  dwelt  on  the  Susquehanna,  and  signed  the  treaty 
of  Conestoga  in  1718.  Upon  his  removal  to  the  Ohio  country, 
he  lived  first  on  the  Cuyahoga,  settling  later  upon  the  Tus¬ 
carawas,  near  the  site  of  the  present  town  named  for  him. 
The  aged  chief  died  at  Pittsburgh  in  1776,  while  attending  a 
treaty  at  that  place. — Ed. 

75  Wingenund  was  an  important  Delaware  chief,  later  hos¬ 
tile  to  the  Americans.  About  1778  he  removed  his  village  to 
the  Sandusky,  where  he  assisted  in  the  torture  of  Col.  William 
Crawford  in  1782. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


47 


you  have  lately  been  in  Council  with  the  French  and 
Wyandots  and  that  you  have  received  a  Speech  from 
the  French  and  a  belt  and  String  of  Black  Wampum 
as  there  has  long  subsisted  the  Greatest  Freindship 
between  you  and  us  I  desire  and  insist  that  you  will 
make  me  Acquainted  with  any  thing  which  may  have 
been  said  to  you  by  the  French  or  any  others  to  the 
Prejudice  of  your  Elder  Brothers  of  Virginia  A 
String  of  White  Wampum 

23d  of  July  the  King  and  Cheifs  of  the  Dela¬ 
wares  met  in  the  Council  House  and  delivered  the 
following  Answer  to  my  Speech  of  Yesterday  Broth¬ 
ers  the  Bigknife  your  Brothers  the  Delawares  are 
very  thankful  to  you  for  your  good  talk  to  them  Yes¬ 
terday  and  are  glad  to  find  their  Brothers  hearts  are 
good  towards  them  and  that  they  will  be  joy  full  in 
meeting  them  at  the  time  and  place  you  Mention 
Brother  in  Order  to  Convince  our  Elder  Brothers  of 
Virginia  that  we  desire  to  live  in  freindship  with  them 
I  now  deliver  you  this  Belt  and  String  they  were  sent 
to  us  by  an  English  Man  and  French  Man  at  Fort  De¬ 
troit  with  a  Message  that  the  People  of  Virginia  were 
determined  to  strike  us  that  they  would  come  upon 
us  two  different  Ways  the  one  by  the  Way  of  the 
Lakes  and  the  other  by  the  Ohio  and  that  the  Virgin¬ 
ians  were  determined  to  drive  us  off  and  to  take  our 
Lands  that  we  must  be  constantly  on  our  Gaurd  and 
not  to  give  any  Credit  to  whatever  you  said  as  you 
were  a  people  not  to  be  depended  upon  that  the  Vir¬ 
ginians  would  invite  Us  to  a  treaty  but  we  must  not 
go  at  any  rate  and  to  take  particular  Notice  of  the  Ad¬ 
vice  they  gave  which  proceeded  from  Motives  of  real 


48 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Freindship  and  nothing  else  Delivers  the  Belt  and 
String 

I  then  hired  a  Man  to  go  with  me  to  the  Seneca 
Towns  set  off  in  a  hard  rain  passed  thro’  a  Town 
of  the  Muncys  and  made  them  Acquainted  with  my 
business  kept  up  White  Womans  Creek  Crossing  it 
Six  times  and  Corcosan  Creek  once  lodged  at  Mo- 
hickins  old  Town  now  Inhabited  by  Delawares70 
travelled  about  38  Miles  this  day  the  Course  nearly 
West 

24th  July  set  off  very  early  in  the  Morning  trav¬ 
elled  very  Constant  till  twelve  O’Clock  when  we  Ar¬ 
rived  at  Indian  Nicholas’s  and  then  Proceeded  on  till 
Night  and  encamped  near  a  Small  run  train  all  Night 
Travelled  about  45  Miles  the  same  Course  as  Yester¬ 
day 

25th  set  out  very  early  in  the  Morning  rode  Con¬ 
stant  till  5  o’Clock  in  the  afternoon  when  we  Ar¬ 
rived  at  the  Seneca  Town77  where  we  found  Logan 
The  Snake  the  Big  Appletree  with  Several  of  the  Min- 

76  White  Woman’s  Creek,  now  known  as  Walhonding,  was 
so  named  from  Mary  Harris,  a  captive  who  adopted  Indian 
ways,  and  lived  in  this  vicinity  as  early  as  1751.  See  Darling¬ 
ton,  Christopher  Gist’s  Journals  (Pittsburgh,  1893),  PP-  4L 

114. 

The  Munsee  town  here  noted  is  shown  on  a  map  in  Hector 
St.  John  de  Crevecoeur,  Lettres  d’un  Cultivateur  Americain 
(Paris,  1787),  iii,  p.  413.  It  was  on  the  north  bank  of  White 
Woman’s  Creek,  just  above  Killbuck’s  Creek.  Corcosan  Creek 
is  noted  on  this  same  map  as  Caucussing,  now  known  as 
Mohican  River  from  the  town  here  noted  by  Wood.  The 
town  lay  on  the  west  bank  where  the  stream  j'oins  the  Wal¬ 
honding. — Ed. 

77  This  town  has  usually  been  identified  with  Pluggy’s  Town, 
but  Wood  visited  that  place  later.  From  the  courses  and 
distances  travelled  it  would  appear  to  be  the  Mingo  or  Seneca 
town  where  Logan  in  1778  was  found  by  Simon  Kenton;  it 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


49 


goes  who  were  lately  Prisoners  at  Fort  Pitt  they  all 
Appeared  to  be  Prety  Much  in  Liquor  and  very  in¬ 
quisitive  to  know  my  Business  called  them  together 
and  made  the  same  speech  to  them  which  I  had  be¬ 
fore  made  to  the  Delawares  they  made  no  other  An¬ 
swer  but  they  would  Acquaint  the  'rest  of  their  Nation 
with  what  I  had  said  and  discovered  that  the  Indians 
were  very  Angry  Many  of  them  Painted  themselves 
black  we  Encamped  near  the  Town  about  ten 
O'Clock  at  Night  one  of  the  Indians  came  and 
Stamped  upon  my  head  as  I  lay  a  Sleep  waked 
and  saw  several  Indians  with  Knives  and  Tom- 
hawks  a  Squaw  informed  us  privately  that  they  in¬ 
tended  to  kill  us  advised  us  to  hide  ourselves  in  the 

* 

Woods  which  we  did  till  Morning  when  we  returned 
again  into  the  Town  Logan  repeated  in  Plain  Eng¬ 
lish  the  Manner  in  which  the  People  of  Virginia  had 
killed  his  Mother  Sister  and  all  his  Relations  during 
which  he  wept  and  Sung  Alternately78  and  concluded 
with  telling  me  the  Revenge  he  had  taken  he  then 
told  me  that  several  of  the  Mingoes  who  were  long 
Prisoners  at  Fort  Pitt79  wanted  to  kill  us  and  asked 


was  situated  on  the  trail  between  Wapatomica  and  upper 
Sandusky,  in  what  is  now  Hardin  County,  Ohio.  See  Draper 
MSS.,  2BB3. — Ed. 

78  This  statement  that  Logan  could  repeat  his  wrongs  in 
“plain  English”  is  interesting  in  view  of  the  discussion  over 
the  authorship  of  his  famous  speech.  See  Dunmore’s  War, 
p.  305,  note  21,  and  references  therein  cited. — Ed. 

T®  These  were  the  captives  taken  by  Dunmore  after  the 
treaty  of  Camp  Charlotte,  in  which  the  Mingo  refused  to  ac¬ 
quiesce.  See  Ibid,  p.  303.  They  were  kept  at  Fort  Pitt  dur¬ 
ing  the  winter  of  1774-75,  but  in  the  spring  were  permitted  to 
escape. — Ed. 


50 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


me  whether  I  was  affraid  to  which  I  answered  1  was 
not  that  we  were  two  lone  Men  where  [who  were] 
sent  to  deliver  a  message  to  them  which  we  had  done 
that  we  were  in  their  Power  and  had  no  way  to  defend 
ourselves  that  they  must  kill  us  if  they  thought  proper 
to  which  he  (replied  that  we  should  not  be  hurt 

26th  July  at  9  O’Clock  in  the  Morning  hired  two 
fresh  horses  and  set  off  for  the  Wyandot  Towns  trav¬ 
elled  very  fast  and  Constant  till  7  O’Clock  in  the 
Evening  when  we  Arrived  at  the  Town  sent  off  Run¬ 
ners  for  the  Cheifs  who  were  distant  about  twenty 
Miles 

27th  July  at  One  O’Clock  the  Wyandots  sent  to 
my  Camp  to  Inform  me  the  Cheifs  were  Arrived  and 
ready  at  their  Council  House  to  hear  what  I  had  to 
say  to  them  and  that  two  of  the  Tawaas80  were  there 
and  would  be  (ready  to  Carry  my  speech  to  their  Na¬ 
tion  went  to  the  Council  House  and  delivered  the 
following  Speech  to  the  Wyandots  and  Tawaas 

Brothers  the  Wyandots  and  Tawaas  your  Brothers 
of  Virginia  in  their  great  Council  desirous  of  bright- 
ning  the  Chain  of  Freindship  between  you  and  them 
have  Appointed  Commissioners  to  meet  the  Cheifs  of 
the  different  Nations  of  Indians  on  the  Ohio  and 
Lakes  at  Foirt  Pitt  in  forty  six  days  from  this  time 
and  have  ordered  me  to  come  to  this  place  to  Assure 
you  that  their  Hearts  are  good  towards  you  and  that 
they  hope  to  agree  upon  a  peace  with  all  the  Indians 
so  their  Childeren  and  ours  may  hereafter  live  in  the 
Greatest  Freindship  to  give  you  a  kind  Invitation  to 


80  This  council  occurred  at  Upper  Sandusky.  For  the 
Tawaas  (Ottawa)  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  273,  note  90. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


51 

their  Council  fire  and  that  they  will  Endeavor  to  give 
you  a  hearty  welcome  Brothers  It  is  with  Great  Con¬ 
cern  I  have  lately  heard  that  some  people  who  I  con¬ 
sider  to  be  enemies  as  well  to  you  as  to  us  have  en¬ 
deavoured  to  make  your  Nations  believe  that  the 
People  of  Virginia  intended  to  strike  you  this  you 
may  be  Assured  is  the  Greatest  falsity  as  I  can  with 
truth  assure  you  that  they  desire  to  live  in  Strict 
Freindship  with  all  Indians  while  they  continue  peace¬ 
able  with  us 

Brothers  the  Tawaas  It  is  with  great  pleasure  I 
take  the  Opportunity  in  the  name  of  my  Countrymen 
to  return  you  thanks  for  the  kind  Treatment  given  by 
your  Nation  to  one  of  our  young  Brothers  who  was 
delivered  into  your  hands  Last  Summer  by  the  Shaw- 
anese  and  to  Assure  you  that  if  any  of  your  people 
should  ever  fall  into  our  hands  they  will  meet  with 
the  same  freindly  treatment81  A  String  of  White 
Wampum  Each 

The  War  Post  then  Answered  Brother  the  Big 
Knife  We  have  heard  what  you  have  said  and  desire 
time  till  to  Morrow  afternoon  to  consider  it  when  we 
will  meet  you  again  in  the  Council  house 

In  the  afternoon  War  Post  and  five  or  six  other 
Indians  came  to  my  Camp  they  said  they  were  come 
to  talk  with  me  as  freinds  that  they  always  Under¬ 
stood  that  the  English  had  but  one  King’  who  lived 
over  the  Great  Water  that  they  were  Much  Surprized 
to  hear  that  we  were  at  War  with  ourselves  and  that 
there  had  been  several  Engagements  at  Boston  in  which' 


81  This  refers  to  Ezekiel  (misprinted  Ephraim)  Field,  for 
whose  capture  see  Ibid,  pp.  113,  114,  note  65. — Ed. 


52 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


a  great  Number  of  Men  were  killed  on  both  sides 
that  as  he  had  been  told  many  different  Stories  they 
would  be  glad  to  know  the  Cause  of  the  dispute  or 
whether  we  Expected  or  desired  their  Assistance  I 
then  began  and  gave  them  a  true  and  just  Account 
from  the  beginning  of  the  disputes  with  Great  Britain 
and  Assured  them  that  we  did  not  stand  in  need  of 
or  desire  any  Assistance  from  them  or  any  other  Na¬ 
tion  but  that  we  wished  them  to  Continue  in  peace 
and  freindliness  with  us  by  Observing  a  Strict  neu¬ 
trality  as  we  had  not  the  least  doubt  that  all  differ¬ 
ences  between  ourselves  would  be  soon  Accomo¬ 
dated  at  the  same  time  I  made  them  Acquainted  with 
the  great  Unanimity  among  the  Americans  and  that 
they  were  now  become  so  strong  as  not  to  fear  any 
power  on  the  face  of  the  Earth  In  this  Conversation 
I  discovered  that  the  Huron  Indians  had  been  led  to 
beleive  that  the  People  of  Virginia  were  a  different 
and  distinct  Nation  from  the  other  Colonies  and  that 
by  going  to  War  with  us  they  need  not  fear  the  Inter¬ 
position  of  the  other  Colonies  this  I  think  I  Effectu¬ 
ally  removed  by  making  them  Acquainted  with  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  that  the 
Colonies  were  bound  and  Obliged  to  defend  each 
other  against  Attacks  from  Whatever  Quarter  they 
might  come  these  Questions  were  likewise  put  to  me 
at  other  times  by  the  Shawanese  Delawares  Mingoes 
and  Tawaas  and  Answered  in  the  same  Manner 
28th  July  went  to  the  Council  house  at  two 
O’Clock  agreable  to  the  Appointment  of  the  Wyan- 
dots  when  Rotunda  or  the  War  Post  in  the  Presence 
of  Coronyatta  Surrahawa  Aughunta  and  other  War- 


4  TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


53 


riors  of  the  Wyandots,  and  Ninnis  and  Mangagata  of 
the  Tawaas  delivered  the  following  Answer  to  my 
speech  of  Yesterday  Brother  the  Bigknife  you  tell 
us  you  were  sent  to  our  Towns  by  the  Great  Men  of 
Virginia  to  let  us  know  that  there  is  now  a  large 
Council  fire  kindling  at  Fort  Pitt  that  it  would  be 
ready  in  forty  six  days  and  we  should  hear  there 
every  thing  that  was  good  Brother  we  have  listned 
to  what  you  have  said  with  great  Attention  and  Con¬ 
sidered  it  well  we  think  it  is  good  and  will  immedi¬ 
ately  send  it  Over  the  Lakes  to  our  Cheifs82  and  will 
be  ruled  by  them  in  our  determinations  Brother  I 
have  nothing  farther  to  say  but  that  it  is  always  a 
Custom  with  us  that  Whatever  News  we  hear  we  im¬ 
mediately  send  it  to  our  head  Men  as  we  shall  on  this 
Occasion,  after  delivering  the  Answer  Rotunda 
told  me  that  he  heard  the  People  of  Virginia  were 
now  building  a  Fort  on  Kentucke  and  intended  to 
drive  ofif  all  the  Indians  and  take  Possession  of  their 
Lands  I  told  him  that  I  never  heard  of  any  Fort 
being  built  on  Kentucke  but  that  our  People  were 
settling  very  fast  in  that  Country  which  they  had  an 
LYdoubted  right  to  do  the  whole  Country  to  the  East¬ 
ward  of  the  Ohio  as  low  down  as  the  Cherokee  River 
was  purchased  from  the  Six  Nations  at  the  Treaty  at 
Fort  Stanwix  and  that  since  which  the  People  of 
Virginia  had  purchased  the  Pretended  right  of  the 
Cherokees  that  we  Should  be  able  to  make  them  sen¬ 
sible  of  this  at  the  Treaty  to  be  held  at  Fort  Pitt  and 

82  The  chief  settlements  of  the  Huron  or  Wyandot  were 
opposite  Detroit,  north  of  Lake  Erie.  It  was  proposed  to 
consult  these  chiefs  before  coming  to  a  decision. — Ed. 


54 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


that  they  might  rest  Assured  that  we  had  no  thoughts 
of  encroaching  any  farther  than  we  had  already  pur¬ 
chased  and  honestly  paid  for  he  then  enquired  after 
news  and  desired  to  know  whether  we  intended  to 
take  Fort  Detroit  from  the  Regulars  this  I  told  them 
I  knew  not  but  beleived  the  Americans  looked  upon 
it  to  be  a  place  of  no  Consequence  to  them  and  that 
they  would  not  Concern  with  it  here  I  took  an  Op¬ 
portunity  of  telling  them  that  we  had  already  taken 
Tyconderoga  and  Crown  Point  without  any  loss  and 
that  we  had  beaten  the  Regulars  in  every  Engage¬ 
ment  with  very  Considerable  loss  on  their  sides  and 
very  inconsiderable  on  ours  I  then  told  him  I  was 
well  Acquainted  with  the  Steps  taken  by  the  Officer 
Commanding  at  Fort  D'Troit  and  Monsieur  Baubee 
to  prejudice  them  against  the  Americans  in  General 
and  Virginia  in  particular  I  then  produced  the  Belt 
and  String  delivered  to  me  by  the  Delawares  and 
asked  him  if  he  knew  them  here  they  all  appeared 
to  be  much  Surprised  but  Acknowledged  that  they  did 
upon  which  I  proceeded  to  repeat  what  was  said  when 
they  were  delivered  all  of  which  they  Acknowledged 
Except  that  the  French  were  concerned  in  it  they 
said  Monsieur  Baubee  was  present  but  that  he  did 
not  interfere  but  added  that  the  Englishmen  told  them 
that  the  Virginians  would  take  the  whole  Country  if 
they  did  not  all  join  together  against  them  I  told 
War  Post  that  I  was  well  Acquainted  with  the  whole 
Matter  that  I  had  got  it  out  at  the  different  Towns  bv 
degrees  first  from  the  Squaws  and  then  from  the 
Men  he  then  desired  me  to  give  him  a  Copy  of  the 
Speech  which  I  made  in  the  Council  Yesterday  that 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


55 


no  part  of  it  might  be  forgot  this  I  readily  complied 
with  and  we  parted  in  the  most  freindly  Manner83 

83  John  Dodge,  a  Connecticut  trader  at  the  Sandusky  vil¬ 
lage,  gave  the  following  additional  particulars  of  Wood's  mis¬ 
sion  to  the  Wyandot  towns:  “In  July,  1775,  Captain  James 
Woods  called  at  my  house,  on  his  way  to  the  different  Indian 
towns,  where  he  was  going  to  invite  them,  in  the  name  of  the 
Congress,  to  a  treaty  to  be  held  at  Fort  Pitt  the  ensuing  fall ; 
I  attended  him  to  their  villages,  and  the  savages  promised 
him  they  would  be  there.  Captain  Woods  also  invited  me  to 
go  with  the  Indians  to  the  treaty,  as  they  were  in  want  of  an 
interpreter,  which  I  readily  agreed  to.  Soon  after  the  depart¬ 
ure  of  Captain  Woods,  the  Commander  of  Fort  Detroit  sent 
for  the  savages  in  and  about  Sandusky,  and  told  them  that  he 
heard  they  were  invited  by  the  Americans  to  a  treaty  at  Pitts¬ 
burgh,  which  they  told  him  was  true;  on  which  he  delivered 
them  a  talk  to  the  following  purport :  ‘That  he  was  their 
father,  and  as  such  he  would  advise  them  as  his  own  children ; 
that  the  Colonists,  who  were  to  meet  them  at  Pittsburgh,  were 
a  bad  people;  that  by  the  indulgence  of  their  Protector,  they 
had  grown  a  numerous  and  saucy  people ;  that  the  Great  King, 
not  thinking  they  would  have  the  assurance  to  oppose  his  just 
laws,  had  kept  but  a  few  troops  in  America  for  some  years 
past;  that  those  men,  being  ignorant  of  their  incapacity  to  go 
through  with  what  they  intend,  propose  to  cut  off  the  regulars 
in  this  country,  and  then  you  Indians,  and  have  all  America 
to  themselves ;  and  all  they  want  is,  under  the  shew  of  friend¬ 
ship  to  get  you  into  their  hands  as  hostages,  and  there  hold 
you,  till  your  nations  shall  comply  with  their  terms,  which  if 
they  refuse,  you  will  all  be  massacred.  Therefore,  do  not  go 
by  any  means;  but  if  you  will  join  me,  and  keep  them  at  bay 
a  little,  while  the  King,  our  father  will  send  large  fleets  and 
armies  to  our  assistance,  and  we  will  soon  subdue  them,  and 
have  their  plantations  to  ourselves.' 

This  talk  so  dismayed  the  Indians,  that  they  came  to  me, 
and  said  they  would  not  go  to  the  treaty,  at  the  same  time 
telling  me  what  the  Governor  of  Detroit  had  said  to  them. 
On  this  Mr.  James  Heron  and  myself,  having  the  cause  of 
our  country  at  heart,  asserted  that  what  the  Governor  had 
said  was  false,  and  told  them  that  the  Colonists  would  not 
hurt  a  hair  of  their  heads;  and  if  they  would  go  to  the  treaty, 
that  I,  with  Mr.  Heron,  would  be  security,  and  pledge  our 
property  to  the  amount  of  4000 1.  for  their  safe  return. 
This,  with  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Richard  Butler  with  fresh  in¬ 
vitations,  induced  some  of  them  to  go  with  me  to  the  treaty.” — 
Almon's  Remembrancer ,  viii,  p.  73. — Ed. 


56 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


I  then  sent  Messages  by  the  Tawaas  to  the  Tawix- 
tawees,  Picks  and  other  Nations  inhabiting  the  Mi- 
mamis  and  Wabash  Rivers  with  Invitations  to  meet 
at  the  Treaty84 

29th  July  set  off  from  the  Wyandots  Town  for 
Pluggys  Town  travelled  very  fast  and  Constant 
Eight  hours  most  of  the  Way  thro’  extensive  Plains 
and  Meadows  Course  South  East 

30th  Started  before  sun  rise  travelled  down  the 
Scioto  River  till  twelve  O’Clock  when  we  Arrived  at 
the  Town  found  PluggyS5  was  from  home  and  all  the 
Indians  drunk  and  very  troublesome  left  a  String  of 
Wampum  and  Speech  for  Pluggy  purchased  some 
dried  Meat  from  an  Indian  and  then  set  off  for  the 
big  salt  Licks86  where  I  Arrived  at  Dark  found  five 
Seneca  Hunters  incamped  and  an  old  Squaw  in  a 
Cabbin  where  we  took  up  our  Lodging 

31st  July  left  the  Salt  Licks  at  7  O’Clock  in  the 
Morning  in  Company  with  a  Seneca  Man  and  Wo¬ 
man  who  were  going  to  the  Shawanese  Towns  tra¬ 
velled  Eight  and  a  half  Hours  very  Constant  when 

84Twigtwee  (Tawixtawee)  was  the  English  term  for  the 
Miami  Indians,  a  large  tribe  of  Algonquian  stock,  who  for  the 
most  part  were  living  along  the  Wabash  and  Maumee  rivers. 
They  had  chiefly  been  in  the  French  interest  before  1763,  but 
then  became  English  partisans,  hostile  to  the  American 
colonists.  For  the  Piets  see  ante ,  note  30. — Ed. 

85  Pluggy  was  a  Mohawk,  who  with  a  band  of  unorganized, 
undisciplined  followers  had  migrated  westward  about  1772 
and  settled  upon  the  present  site  of  Delaware,  Ohio.  He  was 
in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  counselled  with  Dunmore 
at  Fort  Pitt,  September,  1774.  In  a  raid  into  Kentucky  in 
December,  1776,  Pluggy  was  killed  during  an  attack  on  McClel¬ 
land’s  Station. — Ed. 

86  This  was  the  town  raided  by  Crawford  in  October,  1774- 
See  Dunmore’s  War ,  p.  304,  note  17. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


57 


we  Arrived  at  the  Shawanese  Towns87  where  I  spoke 
to  Kishanosity  or  the  Hardman  desired  him  to  call 
the  Cheifs  of  the  different  Towns  together  as  soon  as 
Possible  that  I  had  something  to  say  to  them  from  the 
Great  Council  of  Virginia  the  Hardman88  then  in¬ 
formed  me  that  Chenusaw  had  returned  home  the 
night  before  and  that  he  had  brought  the  most  alarm¬ 
ing  Accounts  from  Virginia  (viz’)  that  the  People 
of  Virginia  were  all  determined  upon  War  with  the 
Indians  except  the  Governor  who  was  for  peace  but 
was  obliged  to  fly  on  board  of  a  ship  to  save  his  own 
life  that  the  hostages  found  they  were  to  be  made 
Slaves  of  and  sent  to  some  other  Country  that  the 
White  People  were  all  preparing  for  War  and  that 
they  shewed  him  many  Indian  scalps  among  which 
Cuttemwha  knew  his  Brothers  that  the  Hostages  de¬ 
termined  if  Possible  to  make  their  Escape  and  Accord¬ 
ingly  sett  off  in  the  Night  all  of  them  together  that 
the  next  day  he  being  behind  the  other  two  at  some 
distance  was  seized  by  three  Men  that  he  heard  them 
determine  to  kill  him  on  which  one  of  them  proceeded 
to  Load  his  Gun  while  the  other  two  held  him  by  the 
Arms  that  before  the  Man  loaded  the  Gun  he  found 
Means  to  disengage  himself  and  made  his  Escape 
leaving  his  Gun  and  every  thing  also  that  he  soon 
after  heard  Several  Guns  and  was  possitive  that  Cut¬ 
temwha  and  Neawau  were  both  killed  as  he  had  been 

87  The  principal  Shawnee  towns  were  located  in  the  Scioto 
Valley,  between  the  present  Chillicothe  and  Circleville.  See 
Ibid.,  pp.  290,  292,  301,  notes  5,  7,  14. — Ed. 

88  See  description  of  a  visit  to  Hardman  in  1773  by  Rev. 
David  Jones,  Journal  of  Tzvo  Visits  to  west  side  of  Ohio 
(N.  Y.,  1866  reprint),  p.  52. — Ed. 


58 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Sixty  days  travelling  and  had  heard  nothing  of  them 
I  told  Kishanosity  that  most  of  what  Chenusaw  had 
informed  him  was  false  and  that  I  would  be  glad  he 
would  send  for  him  which  he  did  as  soon  as  he 
came  I  explained  the  whole  Matter  to  him  and  a 
Number  of  other  Indians  and  Informed  them  that 
Cuttemwha  and  Neawau  were  both  well  and  on  the 
Road  and  that  they  were  bringing  his  Cloaths  and 
every  thing  which  he  had  left  behind  him  and  that  it 
was  very  unlucky  for  him  he  did  not  turn  back  as  the 
others  had  done  to  have  got  a  horse  and  Saddle  to 
ride  home  as  they  had  several  of  the  Indians  were 
employed  in  Conjuring  the  whole  night  during  which 
they  kept  up  a  Constant  howling  like  Wolves  till  day 
light 

1st  August  Kishanosity  sent  me  word  he  had  sent 
for  the  Cheifs  of  the  other  Towns  and  that  they 
would  meet  me  in  the  Council  house  to  Morrow  Morn¬ 
ing  Employed  ourselves  the  remaining  part  of  the 
day  in  enquiries  of  the  Squaws  concerning  the  Speeches 
and  belts  sent  to  the  Shawanese  by  the  French  at 
Fort  D’Troit  who  all  gave  the  same  Accounts  we  had 
before  heard  with  this  addition  that  the  Piets  and 
Tawixtawees  had  Accepted  the  Belts  but  that  the 
Shawanese  had  dug  a  hole  in  the  Ground  and  buried 
them  never  to  rise  again 

2d  August  at  10  o’Clock  a  runner  came  and  In¬ 
formed  me  the  Cheifs  were  Assembled  in  the  Council 
House  ready  to  receive  me  upon  which  I  went  and 
was  received  in  the  most  freindly  manner  when  I  de¬ 
livered  the  following  speech  to  Kishanosity  in  the 
Presence  of  the  Shade  and  Snake  the  Milkman 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


59 


Shawanese  Ben  and  many  other  Cheifs  and  War¬ 
riors  Brothers  the  Shawaneses  your  Elder  Brothers 
of  Virginia  in  their  great  Council  have  appointed  me 
with  five  others  to  meet  all  the  Cheifs  of  the  different 
Nations  of  Indians  on  the  Ohio  and  Lakes  in  forty 
one  days  from  this  time  at  Fort  Pitt  in  Order  to 
Brighten  the  Chain  of  Freindship  between  them  and 
the  People  of  Virginia  and  have  ordered  me  to  come 
to  this  Place  to>  assure  you  that  their  Hearts  are  good 
towards  you  and  that  they  will  be  glad  to  meet  the 
Cheifs  of  your  Nation  fully  to  Confirm  the  Peace 
agreed  upon  last  fall  between  Lord  Dunmore  and  the 
Shawanese  and  Expect  you  will  be  fully  prepared  to 
Comply  with  your  part  of  the  Conditions  at  that 
time  I  am  very  Glad  to  see  your  Brother  Chenusaw 
is  returned  safe  he  left  us  without  any  reason  that 
we  know  of  but  Imagine  it  must  be  Owing  to  some 
Mistake  or  other  as  soon  as  we  found  he  was  gone 
we  sent  many  People  on  Horseback  with  written  pa¬ 
pers  directing  all  our  people  to  treat  him  kindly  so 
that  he  might  return  to  you  in  Safety  your  Brothers 
Cuttemwha  and  Neawau  are  well  they  are  now  on 
the  way  and  you  may  depend  will  be  safely  brought 
to  the  Treaty  Cuttemwha  desired  me  to  tell  you  to 
be  Strong  and  to  come  at  the  time  I  appoint  and 
to  bring  some  of  your  wise  Women  along  with  you  A 
String  of  White  Wampum 

after  delivering  the  Speech  I  called  for  Chenusaw 
but  was  Informed  he  was  ashamed  to  Appear  I  then 
at  their  Desire  Explained  the  nature  of  the  dispute 
with  Lord  Dunmore  and  Convinced  them  that  Chenu¬ 
saw  had  not  told  them  the  truth  and  also  Explained 


6o 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


to  them  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain  in  the  same 
Manner  which  I  had  before  done  to  the  Wyandots 
and  other  Nations  of  Indians  the  Hardman  then 
made  the  following  Answer  to  my  Speech 

Brother  the  Big  knife  I  am  very  thankful  as  well 
as  all  my  freinds  here  present  for  your  good  speech 
delivered  to  us  at  our  Council  fire  It  gives  us  great 
Pleasure  to  think  that  our  Brothers  the  big  knife  have 
not  forgot  us  and  that  we  shall  have  an  Opportunity 
of  talking  to  them  in  Freinship  at  the  time  you  now 
Mention  we  are  much  Oblidged  to  our  Brothers  of 
Virginia  for  their  Care  in  directing  all  their  People 
to  let  our  Birother  Chenusaw  come  to  us  without  re- 
ceiveing  any  hurt  his  coming  away  in  the  Manner 
he  did  proceeded  from  Mistake  in  not  Understanding 
your  Language  we  are  fully  Satisfied  with  what  you 
have  told  us  and  hope  you'll  not  think  hard  of  us  for 
his  bad  behaviour  after  which  Kishanosity  and  other 
Cheifs  enquired  after  News  whether  a  great  Many  of 
our  Young  Men  were  not  going  to  Boston  to  War 
against  the  English  Red  Coats  and  if  we  had  not  sev¬ 
eral  Engagements  with  them  to  which  I  answered  that 
but  few  Men  were  to  go  from  Virginia  as  there  were 
a  great  Sufficiency  of  Men  in  New  England  to  Man¬ 
age  all  the  Regular  Troops  in  America  or  which  they 
were  Able  to  send  and  as  for  the  Engagements  there 
had  been  several  in  all  of  which  we  had  beatten  them 
with  great  loss  on  their  side  and  very  small  on  Ours 
but  that  we  were  in  daily  Expectation  of  all  differ¬ 
ences  being  setled  between  the  two  Countries  to  the 
Satisfaction  of  both.  The  Shade  then  Informed  me 
that  he  had  Just  returned  from  the  Miami  River  that 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


61 


he  met  Catfish  and  a  Number  of  other  Delawares  on 
the  Ohio  with  many  things  which  they  had  Robbed 
the  Inhabitants  of  on  the  Great  Kanhawa  that  he 
gave  me  this  Information  least  his  Brothers  the  Big 
knife  should  blame  the  Shawanese  for  it  Kishanosity 
then  Complained  of  the  Encroachments  of  the  Vir¬ 
ginians  he  said  they  were  now  settling  in  Great  Num¬ 
bers  in  the  Midst  of  their  Hunting  Grounds  on  the 
Kentucke  River  and  that  many  of  our  people  Crossed 
the  Ohio  killed  and  drove  off  their  Game  he  then 
Asked  my  Advice  whether  they  should  go  and  talk 
to  the  People  on  Kentucke  about  it  to  which  I  replied 
that  I  thought  it  would  be  very  Improper  least  some 
of  our  bad  people  might  do  them  an  Injury  but  ad¬ 
vised  them  to  let  the  Matter  alone  till  the  Treaty 
when  I  made  no  doubt  but  we  should  be  able  to  make 
them  sensible  that  we  had  already  purchased  the 
Lands  on  Kentucke  River  from  the  Six  Nations  at 
the  Treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  and  as  to  our  Hunters 
Grossing  the  River  and  Killing  the  Game  we  should 
do  every  thing  in  our  power  to  prevent  it  in  future 
he  then  desired  me  to  beg  their  brothers  the  big  knife 
not  to  listen  to  any  bad  stories  which  they  might  hear 
as  he  had  great  reason  to  Beleive  that  David  Dun¬ 
can80  would  make  many  false  reports  that  he  had 
been  talking  a  Great  deal  to  the  foolish  Women  and 

89  David  Duncan  was  an  important  Pennsylvania  trader  in 
the  Indian  country  in  the  early  Revolution.  His  home  was  at 
Shippensburgh,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  Dunmore’s  War  he  was 
rescued  by  White  Eyes  from  danger  of  death.  In  the  later 
years  of  the  Revolution  he  made  his  home  in  Westmoreland 
County,  and  acted  as  contractor  for  military  supplies  at  Fort 
Pitt.— Ed. 


62 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


paid  no  regard  to  what  the  Men  said  to  him  I  then 
told  him  that  I  had  been  Informed  that  the  Command¬ 
ing  Officer  at  Fort  De  Troit  and  Monseiur  Baubee 
had  sent  a  Belt  and  String  of  Black  Wampum  to  their 
Nation  with  a  Speech  that  the  people  of  Virginia 
Intended  to  drive  them  off  and  to  take  their  Lands 
recommending  them  and  the  other  Nations  to  Join 
together  in  Order  to  Oppose  them  and  at  the  same 
time  advised  them  not  to  Listen  to  any  thing  which 
might  be  said  to  them  by  the  Virginians  that  they 
were  a  people  not  to  be  depended  upon  all  of  which 
the  Shawanese  Acknowledged  they  said  that  what¬ 
ever  they  had  heard  or  received  from  them  they  had 
Dug  a  hole  in  the  Ground  and  Buried  them  never  to 
rise  again  I  was  then  Informed  by  a  Mohicon  In¬ 
dian90  who  spoke  good  English  that  he  had  Just  Re¬ 
turned  from  Kacayuga  where  he  saw  a  Greater  Num¬ 
ber  of  Indians  than  he  had  ever  seen  before  and  that 

90  The  Mahican  (Mohegan)  Indians,  a  large  branch  of  the 
Algonquian  stock,  were  encountered  by  the  whites  in  Con¬ 
necticut  and  on  the  Hudson  River.  The  western  division 
were  frequently  in  alliance  with  the  Iroquois,  and  after  selling 
their  lands  to  the  Dutch  (about  1680),  roamed  through¬ 
out  the  Western  country.  The  French  called  them  Loups 
(Wolves),  from  one  of  their  clan  totems,  and  they  had  a  vil¬ 
lage  on  the  Detroit  River  before  the  building  of  the  French 
fort  at  that  place  (1701).  Gradually  they  drew  toward  the 
Delawares,  with  whom  they  were  cognate,  and  about  1746  a 
considerable  band  of  Mahican  settled  in  Wyoming  Valley, 
Pennsylvania.  Thence  they  removed  with  the  Delawares  to 
the  Ohio  region,  and  settled  near  them,  although  in  separate 
villages.  After  the  Revolution,  this  western  branch  became 
amalgamated  with  the  Delawares.  The  eastern  branch  re¬ 
mained  in  Connecticut  until  after  the  Revolution,  some  of 
them  serving  in  the  Continental  armies.  The  Christianized 
portion  of  the  tribe,  under  Samson  Occam,  became  part  of  the 
Brothertown  Indians,  who  removed  first  to  New  York  and 
finally  to  Wisconsin. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS  63 


we  might  Expect  Warmer  Work  this  fall  than  had 
ever  happened  before  I  was  likewise  Informed  by 
James  Bavard  a  Trader  in  the  Shawanese  Towns  that 
the  Indians  were  Constantly  Counseling  and  that  the 
Women  all  seemed  very  uneasy  in  Expectations  that 
there  would  be  War  I  then  set  off  from  the  Sha¬ 
wanese  Towns  on  my  return  Called  at  the  Kiocopo91 
Town  and  then  proceeded  twenty  Miles  and  Encamped 

3d  August  sett  off  before  sun  rise  rode  hard  and 
Constant  til  Seven  O  Clock  in  the  Evening  met  a 
Shawanese  Man  who  Informed  me  that  one  of  their 
Nation  was  lately  Killed  on  Kentucke  River  and  that 
the  white  People  said  it  was  done  by  the  Southern 
Indians  Travelled  about  Forty  Miles  and  Encamped 
rains  hard  all  Night 

4th  August  rains  hard  set  off  early  Travelled 
about  thirty  Eight  Miles  stopped  at  a  Delaware  Wo¬ 
mans  Cabbin  where  I  staid  all  night  nothing  to  eat 
the  two  days  past  but  Blackberry’s 

5th  August  set  off  in  a  hard  rain  very  Early  Tra¬ 
velled  four  Hours  when  I  arrived  at  Captain  White 
Eyes’s  Purchased  some  Meat  from  an  Indian  set 
off  for  New  Comers  Town  at  which  I  staid  two 
Hours  proceeded  to  the  Lower  Moravian  Town92 

01  Kiscapoo  (Kiskapookee)  was  the  settlement  of  the  Shaw¬ 
nee  clan  by  that  name.  At  this  time  it  was  located  about  a 
mile  west  of  the  Scioto,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  present  Picka¬ 
way  County,  Ohio  (see  accompanying  Crevecceur  map).  In 
1 773  Richard  Butler  had  a  trading  house  at  this  town,  and 
somewhat  earlier  there  was  born  here  the  famous  Shawnee 
chief  Tecumseh.  This  clan  of  Shawnee  were  especially  hos¬ 
tile  to  American  colonists. — Ed. 

02  This  was  Gnadenhiitten,  for  which  see  ante ,  p.  45,  note 
7 1. — Ed. 


64 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


where  we  Arrived  at  Dark  taken  to  the  Cabbin  of 
an  Indian  and  Hospitably  Entertained 

6th  August  (Sunday)  went  to  Church  with  the 
Indians  at  which  were  present  about  One  hundred 
and  fifty  of  them,  who  all  Behaved  with  the  Greatest 
Decency  and  Decorum  the  Minister  who  resides  at 
this  Town  is  a  German  of  the  Moravian  Sect  has 
Lived  with  them  several  Years  has  Acquired  their 
Language  and  taught  most  of  them  the  English  and 
German  he  prayed  in  the  Delaware  Language 
Preached  in  the  English  and  sung  Psalms  in  the  Ger¬ 
man  in  which  the  Indians  Joined  and  Performed 
that  part  of  Divine  Service  in  a  Manner  really  Ini¬ 
mitable  the  Church  is  a  Decent  Square  Log  Building 
with  Plank  floars  and  Benches  Ornamented  with 
Several  Pieces  of  German  Scripture  Paintings  has  a 
Small  Cupola  with  a  Bell  and  a  very  Indifferent  Spin- 
net93  on  which  an  Indian  played  the  remaining  part 
of  the  day  employed  in  Hunting  for  our  Horses  Un¬ 
successfully 

8th  August  at  two  O’Clock  in  the  afternoon  found 
our  Horses  and  Immediately  set  off  Travelled  about 
Twenty  Miles  and  Encamped 

9th  August  set  off  early  in  the  Morning  travelled 
about  forty  five  Miles  and  encamped  at  dark 

10th  August  my  Horse  failed  came  to  an  Indian 
Hunting  Camp  whe<re  I  hired  an  Horse  of  an  Indian 
Woman  and  left  mine  in  her  Care  to  be  brought  to 
Fort  Pitt  in  Ten  Days  Travelled  about  forty  five 

03  Possibly  the  first  musical  instrument  of  this  sort  ever 
used  in  Ohio. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS  65 


Miles  when  I  arrived  at  Mr  John  Gibsons94  where  I 
staid  all  Night 

11th  August  sett  off  after  Bireakfast  and  Arrived 
Fort  Pitt  about  3  oClock  in  the  afternoon  where  I 
found  several  Senecas  who  had  Just  come  from  a 
Treaty  which  had  been  held  at  Niagara  by  Guy  Johns¬ 
ton95  I  Interrogated  them  but  found  that  they  had 
got  their  Lesson  not  to  make  any  Discovery’s  they 
said  that  the  Indian  Agent  told  them  to  lie  still  and 
not  to  Concern  with  the  Dispute  between  the  People 
of  Great  Britian  and  America96 

12th  August  I  sett  off  from  Fort  Pitt  for  Win- 


04  Gibson’s  trading  house  was  situated  at  Logstown ;  see 
ante,  p.  26,  note  52. — Ed. 

05  Guy  Johnson  was  nephew  and  son-in-law  of  Sir  William 
Johnson,  whom  he  succeeded  in  the  Indian  superintendency 
on  the  latter’s  death  in  1774.  Born  in  Ireland  in  1740,  he 
came  early  to  America,  led  provincial  troops  in  the  French 
and  Indian  War,  and  possessed  a  fine  estate  known  as  Guy 
Park,  in  New  York  state.  A  professed  Loyalist,  he  fled  to 
Canada  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  where  he  assisted 
with  his  Indian  allies  in  the  defense  of  that  province.  During 
the  winter  of  1775-76  he  visited  England,  coming  again  to 
New  York  in  August,  1 776.  He  was  later  in  Canada,  retain¬ 
ing  his  Indian  superintendency  until  1783.  He  died  in  Lon¬ 
don,  1788.  Johnson  was  not  present  at  a  treaty  at  Niagara 
in  the  summer  of  1775.  Wood  was  misinformed  in  regard  to 
his  presence  at  this  place.  For  a  full  account  of  Johnson’s 
movements  during  the  summer  of  1775,  see  his  letter  to  Dart¬ 
mouth  in  N.  Y.  Colon.  Docs.,  viii,  pp.  635-637.  See  also  the 
letter  of  Col.  Adam  Stephen  in  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series, 
iii,  pp.  777,  778,  wherein  he  says  that  the  tribes  living  on  the 
Allegheny  had  been  to  a  treaty  at  Niagara,  and  others  to 
Caughnawaga,  near  Montreal,  to  meet  Guy  Johnson. — Ed. 

96  At  the  Oswego  conference  in  May,  1775,  Guy  Johnson 
urged  neutrality  upon  the  western  portions  of  the  Iroquois 
tribesmen;  but  in  July,  he  received  orders  from  Dartmouth 
to  induce  the  Six  Nations  to  take  up  the  hatchet  against  the 
rebellious  colonists. — N.  Y.  Colon.  Docs.,  viii,  p.  596. — Ed. 

5 


66 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Chester  where  I  Arrived  in  five  days  the  Committee 
recommended  that  I  would  send  off  an  Express  to 
the  Convention  at  Richmond  who  were  still  sitting 
which  I  did  the  next  Morning  with  the  following  Let¬ 
ter  Directed  to  the  Honble  Peyton  Randolph  Es¬ 
quire.97 

Sir — I  am  just  now  returned  from  my  Expedition 
to  the  Indian  Towns  and  have  Inclosed  you  Extracts 
from  my  Journal  which  Contains  every  Material  Oc- 
curance  that  happened  Dureing  my  tour  through  the 
Nations  of  Shawanese  Delawares  Senicas  and  Wian- 
dots  the  Cheifs  of  which  have  Engaged  to  Attend 
the  Treaty  at  Fort  Pitt  the  10th  of  the  next  Month 
from  every  discovery  I  was  able  to  make  the  Indians 
are  forming  a  General  Confederacy  against  the  Colony 
having  been  led  to  beleive  that  we  are  a  people  Quite 
different  and  distinct  from  the  other  Colonies  I  In¬ 
tend  myself  the  Honor  of  Waiting  on  the  Convention 
if  they  should  not  rise  before  the  25th  in  Order  to 
give  them  every  Information  in  my  power  I  wou’d 
beg  leave  to  make  an  Observation  that  there  is  no 
Garrison  at  Fort  Pitt  that  the  Inhabitants  in  the 
Neighbourhood  of  it  are  in  the  most  defenceless  situa¬ 
tion  and  that  there  will  be  in  my  Opinion  at  least  five 

97  Peyton  Randolph  (1721-75)  was  president  of  the  Virginia 
convention,  as  well  as  president  of  the  first  Continental  Con¬ 
gress.  He  died  while  in  attendance  on  the  second  Congress 
in  October,  1775.  A  life-long  patriot,  he  had  while  King’s  at¬ 
torney  for  the  colony  of  Virginia  resisted  what  was  considered 
the  usurpation  of  Governor  Dinwiddie.  He  was  prominent 
in  opposition  to  the  Stamp  Act,  and  chairman  of  the  first  com¬ 
mittee  of  correspondence.  His  death  was  a  loss  to  the  Ameri¬ 
can  cause. — Ed. 


I 


4*m 


ft 


Peyton  Randolph 


After  the  painting  in  Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia 


library 

0F  THE 

UNIVERSITY  oi  ILLINOIS. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS  6 7 


hundred  Indians  at  the  Treaty98  I  have  the  Honor 

to  be  &c 
September  20th  1775 


The  following  is  the  Information  given  by  the  Doc¬ 
tor  a  Mohawk  who  was  sent  to  Invite  the  Six  Nation 
People  on  the  Ohio  to  a  Treaty  at  Pittsburgh  on  the 
part  of  Virginia  from  the  Upper  Town  Six  Cheifs 
will  Attend  but  he  is  not  Certain  what  Number  will 
be  down  from  thence  in  the  whole  but  they  may  be 
Expected  in  two  or  three  days  that  they  designed 
to  meet  at  the  White  Mingos  house  and  would  come 
down  from  thence  in  a  body  Simon  Girty  who  in¬ 
terprets  for  the  Doctor  and  who  delivered  the  invita¬ 
tion  speech  to  him  desired  him  to  endeavour  to  dis¬ 
cover  the  Intentions  of  the  Indians  he  was  sent  to 
whether  the  French  were  tampering  with  them  and 
what  proposals  were  made  by  them  which  he  Under¬ 
took  to  do  on  a  promise  of  Secresy  and  reports  that 
the  Commanding  Officer  at  Niagara"  and  Guy  John¬ 
son  had  invited  them  the  Senecas  to  a  Treaty  at  Ni¬ 
agara  where  he  put  them  in  mind  of  their  Antient 

08  The  Virginia  convention  recognized  the  services  of  James 
Wood  by  passing  a  resolution  (Jan.  6,  1776)  to  the  effect  that 
having  been  two  months  on  the  mission  entrusted  to  him  by 
the  house  of  burgesses,  and  having  had  his  life  endangered, 
by  the  exercise  of  all  his  abilities  he  had  engaged  the  chiefs 
to  attend  the  treaty;  and  because  of  the  difficulties  and  dan¬ 
gers  he  had  undergone,  was  accordingly  voted  an  honorarium 
of  £250. — Amer.  Archives ,  4th  series,  iv,  pp.  no,  in. — Ed. 

09  The  commandant  at  Niagara  was  Col.  John  Caldwell, 
who  came  to  America  in  1755  with  the  7th  Tnfantry.  He  was 
stationed  at  Fort  Niagara  from  1774  to  November,  1776  when 
he  retired  from  the  army.  His  name  among  the  Indians  was 
Oguhaen  j  es. — Ed. 


68 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Freindship  with  their  Father  the  French  telling  them 
that  their  Hands  were  then  each  made  of  Silver  and 
would  never  be  injured  by  Rust  he  told  them  they 
would  probably  soon  be  called  to  a  Treaty  at  Fort 
Pitt  but  that  they  ought  not  to  go  to  it  nor  regard 
anything  the  Bigknife  might  say  to  them  for  tho  he 
had  a  very  smooth  Oily  Tongue  his  Heart  was  not 
good  that  he  would  soon  want  to  Cross  the  Great 
River  which  is  their  Line  perhaps  at  Kanhawa  or  at 
Pittsburgh  on  pretence  of  keeping  a  Store  at  De  Troit 
or  Cayahoga1  or  some  other  place  and  would  tell 
them  they  would  then  get  Goods  very  Cheap  but  they 
should  not  beleive  him  he  only  wanted  to  deceive  them 
and  take  their  Lands  from  them  which  they  knew  was 
now  only  a  small  strip  that  they  should  on  no  Ac¬ 
count  allow  him  to  Cross  the  Big  River  for  if  they 
did  they  would  surely  be  undone  they  put  them  in 
Mind  of  the  Treaty  they  had  lately  been  at  at  Fort 
Pitt2  where  the  big  knife  gave  them  very  good 
Words  but  they  were  from  the  Lips  only  and  not 
from  the  Heart,  which  they  might  be  Sensible  of, 
for  when  they  were  going  away  he  gave  them  little 
or  no  Goods,  and  when  they  Asked  for  Powder  to 
hunt  with  on  their  way  home,  they  got  only  one  Double 
Handful,  and  the  reason  he  would  give  them  no  more 
was,  that  he  wanted  it  himself  to  use  it  against  them, 
that  they  are  now  fighting  with  the  Great  King  over 

1  Cuyahoga  River,  whose  mouth  is  the  site  of  Cleveland, 
was  a  well-known  rendezvous  of  the  Ottawa,  who  had  a  vil¬ 
lage  upon  its  banks.  It  was  also  a  considerable  trading  sta¬ 
tion,  frequented  by  many  tribesmen. — Ed. 

2 Referring  to  Connolly’s  treaty  in  June;  for  which  see 
ante,  p.  19. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS  69 


the  Water,  from  whom  they  get  all  their  Powder, 
that  they  have  not  more  than  will  serve  him  for  Three 
Years,  and  then  they  must  submit  as  Neither  Pow¬ 
der  or  Cloaths  can  be  made  in  this  Country,  but  that 
they  have  Plenty  of  both  and  if  they  would  keep  hold 
of  the  Chain  of  Freindship  which  their  Father  put 
into  their  hands,  they  would  not  want,  they  then 
gave  them  a  Keg  of  Powder  &  Lead  in  Proportion, 
and  some  Goods,  they  were  desired  if  the  Bigknife 
People  should  Cross  the  Great  River  to  send  off 
their  head  Men  to  them  and  tell  them  to  go  back  to 
their  Country,  they  should  tell  them  so  three  times 
and  if  they  would  not  Stop  nor  go  back  they  then 
should  send  to  him  (the  Command*  officer  at  Nia¬ 
gara)  and  he  would  speak  to  them  and  if  they  would 
not  pay  any  regard  to  what  he  said  he  would  gather 
all  his  People  and  fight  them  they  must  not  be  Al¬ 
lowed  to  Spoil  this  great  Island  which  the  good  Spirit 
had  allowed  for  them  it  might  happen  that  he 
might  be  thrown  down  in  the  Struggle  but  if  he  fell 
they  must  fall  with  him  for  the  Big  knife  had  been 
pushing  them  back  for  a  long  time  and  would  not 
rest  till  he  had  got  all  this  Country  but  now  he  and 
they  were  so  linked  together  they  would  be  never 
Separated  but  must  stand  or  fall  together  that  their 
father  had  long  ago  sent  his  Heart  to  them  in  a  Belt 
but  they  did  not  mind  it  but  rose  up  with  the  English 
and  threw  him  down  and  thought  they  had  killed  him 
but  he  was  only  knocked  down  and  not  killed  and  kept 
his  Eyes  Open  all  the  time  determined  to  rise  again 
whenever  his  Children  should  be  imposed  upon  that 


70 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


they  were  now  imposed  upon  by  the  English  for  which 
Reason  he  had  got  on  his  feet  again  and  would  bring 
his  Ships  and  fight  them  on  the  Sea  Co[a]st  and  they 
ought  to  send  out  their  People  and  kill  them  where 
ever  they  could  find  them  and  between  them  they 
would  soon  root  them  out  and  get  Satisfaction  for  all 
their  Injuries 


September  24th  James  Rogers  an  Adopted  Shaw- 
anese  informs  the  Commissioners  that  last  summer 
several  Messages  were  received  by  the  Shawanese 
from  the  Chipeways  Tawaas  Wyandots  and  the  French 
and  English  at  De  Troit  the  design  of  them  was  to 
know  if  the  Shawanese  and  Virginians  had  made  a 
firm  peace  to  diswade  them  from  it  and  tbreatning  to 
strike  them  if  they  did  as  they  intended  to  strike  the 
Virginians  that  a  Message  had  been  sent  from  the 
Towns  after  the  Cornstalk  when  on  his  way  to  this 
place  desiring  him  and  the  Young  Men  to  return  for 
they  would  be  cutt  off  at  the  Fort  the  Cornstalk 
would  not  go  back  but  advised  the  Young  Men  to  it 
they  would  not  return  without  him  and  are  all  coming 
on  that  he  is  not  Acquainted  with  the  disposition  of 
the  six  Nations  but  he  has  heard  they  have  scolded  the 
Chipeways  and  Tawaas  that  we  may  Judge  of  the 
Shawanese  by  this  Circumstance  if  they  are  Anxious 
to  hurry  the  Business  over  and  get  soon  away  their 
designs  are  not  good  his  information  about  the  Six 
Nations  he  got  from  some  Shawanese  who  had  been 
in  their  Country  and  lately  returned  the  purport  of 
the  speech  sent  by  them  to  the  Chipaways  and  Tawaas 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


7 1 


was  that  they  had  tied  up  their  hands  and  likewise 
their  own  from  doing  any  Mischeif  to  the  White  People 
and  notwithstanding  three  of  their  Towns  meant  to 
break  loose  and  reproved  them  for  it  severely  that 
the  Report  of  their  design  made  the  Shawanese  very 
uneasy  as  they  meant  to  Maintain  a  firm  peace  with 
their  Bretheren  which  may  be  interrupted  by  it  that 
he  had  a  good  Opportunity  of  knowing  the  Sentiments 
of  the  Shawanese  and  is  sure  they  do  not  intend  Mis¬ 
cheif  but  they  may  be  persuaded  to  it  by  other  Na¬ 
tions  or  driven  into  it  by  fear  but  he  thinks  unless 
the  Shawanese  join  with  them  the  Chipeways  and 
Tawaas  will  not  commence  hostilities  that  the  Indians 
have  a  suspicion  that  we  have  a  Number  of  Armed 
Men  Collected  at  no  great  distance  from  this  place 
with  a  design  to  fall  upon  them  when  they  come  to 
the  Treaty  which  gives  them  much  Uneasiness  that 
we  may  judge  of  the  Sincerity  of  the  Cornstalk  from 
his  discovering  the  Sentiments  and  designs  of  the 
other  Nations  which  if  he  does  not  do  but  only  says  in 
General  terms  that  all  is  Peace  we  may  reasonably 
suspect  him. 

Mr  John  Gibson  Informed  the  Commissioners  that 
he  had  Just  received  a  Letter  from  Major  John  Con¬ 
nolly  directed  to  him  with  a  Speech  from  Lord  Dun- 
more  to  White  Eyes  a  Delaware  Cheif  requesting  him 
that  he  would  Communicate  the  same  to  White  Eyes 
that  he  thought  it  a  duty  which  he  Owed  his  Country 
to  lay  them  before  the  Commissioners  and  that  they 
were  at  Liberty  to  make  what  use  they  pleased  of  the 
Letter  and  Speech  which  are  as  followeth 


72 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Portsmouth  Aug  9th  1775 

Dr  Sir — I  have  safely  Arrived  here  and  am  happy 
to  the  Greatest  Degree  having  so  fortunately  Escaped 
the  Narrow  Inspection  of  my  Enemies  the  Enemies  to 
their  Country  to  good  Order  and  Government  I 
shou’d  Esteem  myself  defective  in  Point  of  Preind- 
ship  towards  you  shou'd  I  Neglect  to  caution  you  to 
Avoid  an  Over  Zealous  Exertion  of  what  is  now  so 
rediculously  called  Patriotic  Spirit  but  on  the  Con¬ 
trary  to  deport  yourself  with  that  Moderation  for  which 
you  have  been  always  remarkable  and  which  must  in 
this  Instance  tend  to  your  Honor  and  advantage  you 
may  be  assured  from  me  Sir  that  the  Greatest  Un¬ 
animity  now  Prevails  at  home  and  that  the  Innovat¬ 
ing  Spirit  Amongst  us  here  is  looked  upon  as  Ungener¬ 
ous  and  Undutifull  and  that  the  Utmost  Exertion  of 
the  Powers  of  Government  (if  Necessary)  will  be 
Used  to  Convince  the  Infatuated  People  of  their  folly 
I  cou’d  I  assure  you  (Sir)  give  you  such  convincing 
proofs  of  what  I  assert  and  from  which  every  Reason¬ 
able  person  may  conclude  the  Effects  that  nothing 
but  Madness  cou’d  Operate  upon  a  Man  so  far  as  to 
overlook  his  duty  to  the  present  Constitution  and  to 
form  unwarrantable  Associations  with  Enthusiasts 
whose  ill  timed  folly  must  draw  down  upon  them  in¬ 
evitable  distruction  His  Lordship  desires  you  to  pre¬ 
sent  his  hand  to  Captain  White  Eyes  and  to  assure 
him  that  he  is  sorry  that  he  had  not  the  Pleasure  of 
seeing  him  at  the  Treaty  or  that  the  Situation  of  Af¬ 
fairs  prevented  him  from  coming  down  Beleive  me 
Dr  Sir  that  I  have  no  motive  in  writing  my  Senti- 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


73 


ments  thus  to  you  farther  than  to  endeavour  to  Stear 
you  Clear  of  the  Misfortunes  which  I  am  Confidant 
must  Involve  but  Unhappily  too  Many  I  have  sent 
you  an  Address  from  the  People  of  Great  Britain  to 
the  People  of  America  and  desire  you  to  Consider  it 
Attentively  which  will  I  flatter  myself  Convince  you 
of  the  Idleness  of  Many  Declamations  and  of  the  ab¬ 
surdity  of  an  Intended  Slavery 

Give  my  love  to  George  and  tell  him  that  he  shall 
hear  from  me  and  I  hope  to  his  Advantage  Inter¬ 
pret  the  Inclosed  Speech  to  captain  White  Eyes  from 
his  Lordship  be  Prevailed  upon  to  shun  the  Popular 
Error  and  Judge  for  yourself  Act  as  a  good  Subject 
and  Expect  the  rewards  due  to  your  Services  I  am 
&c 

(Signed)  John  Connolly 

Brother  Captain  White  Eyes — I  am  glad  to  hear 
your  good  speeches  sent  me  by  Major  Connolly  and 
you  may  be  assured  that  I  shall  put  the  one  end  of 
the  Belt  which  you  have  sent  me  into  the  hands  of 
our  Great  King  who  will  be  glad  to  hear  from  his 
Brothers  the  Delawares  and  will  take  strong  hold  of 
it  you  may  rest  satisfied  that  our  foolish  young  Men 
shall  never  be  permited  to  have  your  Lands  but  on 
the  Contrary  the  Great  King  will  Protect  you  and 
Preserve  you  in  the  Possession  of  them  Our  Young 
People  in  this  Country  have  been  very  foolish  and 
done  many  Imprudent  things  for  which  they  must  soon 
be  sorry  and  of  which  I  make  no  doubt  they  have  Ac¬ 
quainted  you  but  I  must  desire  you  not  to  Listen  to 


74 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


them  as  they  wou’d  be  willing  that  you  shou’d  Act 
Equally  foolish  with  themselves  but  rather  Let  what 
you  hear  pass  in  at  one  Ear  and  out  of  the  other  so 
that  it  may  make  no  Impression  on  your  Heart  until 
you  hear  from  me  fully  which  shall  be  soon  as  I  can 
give  farther  Information 

Captain  White  Eyes  will  please  to  Acquaint  the 
Cornstalk  with  these  my  Sentiments  also  as  well  as 
the  Cheifs  of  the  Mingoes  and  the  other  six  Nations 
your  Sincere  freind  and  Elder  Brother 

(Signed)  Dunmore 


September  26th  The  Shawanese  being  Arrived  tlx 
Commissioners  received  them  with  Drum  and  Colours 
and  a  Salute  of  small  Arms  from  the  Garrison  and 
having  Conducted  them  to  a  Council  House  Erected 
for  the  Occasion  after  a  Short  Pause  the  Cornstalk 
spoke  as  follows 

Brothers  of  Virginia  Listen  to  what  I  am  going  to 
say  Captain  McKee3  was  many  Years  ago  Placed  by 

3  Alexander  McKee  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
early  began  trading  with  the  Indians  on  the  Ohio,  and  by  1772 
was  appointed  deputy-agent  under  Sir  William  Johnson.  In 
1771  he  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  Bedford,  later  for  West¬ 
moreland  County.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  he  in¬ 
clined  to  the  Royalist  side,  and  was  privately  given  a  commis¬ 
sion  by  Dunmore  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  a  battalion  to  be 
raised  near  Fort  Pitt.  This  enlistment  was  never  accom¬ 
plished,  and  he  contrived  to  quiet  the  suspicions  of  the  patriot 
party  so  that  under  parole  he  was  allowed  his  liberty.  In 
August,  1777,  he  was  confined  at  Pittsburgh  for  a  brief  time, 
and  an  effort  was  made  to  remove  him  to  an  Eastern  post 
This  he  adroitly  evaded,  and  March  28,  1778,  left  for  Detroit 
accompanied  by  Matthew  Elliot  and  Simon  Girty.  The  Eng- 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


75 


our  Wise  People  at  this  Council  fire  to  have  the  Care 
of  it  and  all  our  Young  people  look  on  him  in  that 
light  we  desire  he  will  still  have  an  Ear  to  our  Mu¬ 
tual  Interest  as  we  think  he  ought  to  have  as  great  a 
regard  for  ours  as  yours  and  hope  he  will  have  an 
Ear  Open  to  Each  of  us  A  String  of  Wampum 

The  Cornstalk  after  Observing  that  the  Gentlemen 
from  Congress  were  not  present  said  It  Appears  to 
me  that  you  are  not  all  as  one  person  as  I  Expected 
to  find  you 

Col0  Lewis  then  Spoke  as  follows  Brothers  agree¬ 
able  to  Appointment  we  came  here  Sixteen  days  ago 
we  have  been  Impatiently  Expecting  you  and  are 
rejoiced  you  are  now  come  we  have  rekindled  a 
Council  fire  at  this  place  we  now  take  you  by  the 
nand  and  heartily  welcome  you  to  it  we  hope  our 
Meetings  in  future  will  be  so  Frequent  that  this  Coun¬ 
cil  fire  will  not  be  Suffered  to  go  out  as  we  have 
been  so  long  detained  here  and  have  much  also  to  do 
we  hope  you  will  as  soon  as  you  are  rested  from  the 
Fatigues  of  your  Journey  Proceed  to  Business  and 
in  the  Mean  time  furnish  us  with  all  the  Intelligence 
you  can  respecting  the  Approach  of  the  Other  Tribes 

lish  authorities  made  him  captain  in  the  Indian  department, 
and  after  1778,  deputy  agent.  He  had  large  pay  and  consid¬ 
erable  honor  and  authority,  and  led  several  expeditions 
against  the  American  frontier.  After  the  Revolution  he  be¬ 
came  a  colonel,  and  was  accused  of  continuing  to  incite  the 
tribesmen  against  the  borderers.  Certain  it  is,  that  he  en¬ 
couraged  the  forces  against  Wayne,  and  that  the  battle  of 
Fallen  Timbers  (1794)  was  fought  within  sight  of  his  house 
and  store  on  the  Maumee.  After  the  evacuation  of  Detroit 
by  the  British  (1796),  McKee  removed  to  Malden,  Ont., 
where  he  died  Jan.  14,  1799,  of  lockjaw. — Ed. 


76 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


from  your  Quarter  We  have  the  same  respect  for 
Captain  McKee  you  have  he  has  still  the  Care  of  this 
Council  fire  as  will  be  hereafter  Explained  to  you  you 
will  find  we  are  more  United  and  one  People  than 
ever  A  String 

The  Cornstalk  then  Informed  the  Commissioners 
that  he  thought  the  Delawares  and  Wiandots  might  be 
Expected  to  morrow  Nimwha  a  Chief  of  the  Shaw- 
anese  then  Addressed  the  'rest  of  that  Nation  who 
were  Present  he  told  them  they  had  now  the  Satis¬ 
faction  of  shaking  hands  with  some  of  the  Wise  People 
of  Virginia  for  which  they  ought  to  be  very  thank¬ 
ful 


At  a  Meeting  of  all  the  Commissioners  for  Indian 
Affairs  as  well  as  those  from  Congress  as  those  from 
Virginia  September  30  th  Resolved  that  all  the 
Commissioners  for  Indian  Affairs  do  meet  all  the  In¬ 
dians  of  the  Different  Tribes  in  the  Council  House  so 
soon  as  all  the  Nations  Expected  Arrive  that  a 
proper  Speech  be  prepared  to  be  delivered  to  them  by 
Lewis  Morris  Esqr  which  Speech  is  to  Contain  the 
Usual  Ceremonies  Observed  at  Treatys  with  Indians 
and  then  to  irefer  them  to  the  Commissioners  of  Vir¬ 
ginia  to  settle  the  Particular  Business  of  their  Depart¬ 
ment  and  that  as  soon  as  the  same  should  be  finished 
the  Commissioners  from  the  Continental  Congress  will 
Speak  to  them  in  the  Name  of  the  thirteen  United  Col¬ 
onies  who  they  represent 

The  Mingoes  marched  to  the  Council  House  with 
their  Flag  they  Saluted  a  little  before  they  Entered 


Lewis  Morris 


After  a 


photograph  in 
Wiilliam  A.  P. 


the  possession  of  his  grandson, 
Morris,  of  Madison,  Wis. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


77. 


by  firing  their  Guns  which  was  returned  by  the  Gar¬ 
rison  when  they  were  seated  in  the  Council  House 
The  White  Mingo  spoke  as  follows  Brothers  There 
was  a  Small  Council  fire  kindled  here  not  long  since 
by  some  of  Virginia  who*  are  now  here  you  sent  a 
Speech  up  and  down  the  River  Informing  all  the  Na¬ 
tions  you  Intended  to  kindle  a  large  Council  fire  here 
at  this  time  when  all  who  would  come  shou’d  be  Wel¬ 
come  some  time  after  we  received  this  Message  from 
our  Brothers  the  Big  knife  our  Brother  Onas4  sent 
us  a  speech  desiring  us  to  Make  haste  we  have 
Brother  Onas  and  likewise  our  Brothers  of  the  big- 
knife  fast  by  the  Hand  fifty  of  us  are  come  as  we 
promised  and  now  produce  the  Speech  which  you 
then  sent  to  us 

Col0  Morris  then  Spoke  as  follows  Brothers  we 
are  very  Glad  to  see  you  when  the  Chiefs  of  the  other 
Nations  who  we  Expect  Arrive  we  shall  be  glad  to 
see  you  all  at  this  great  Council  fire  and  will  then 
Open  to  you  the  design  of  this  Treaty  in  the  Mean 
time  you  shall  be  Amply  Provided  with  Provisions  to 
make  your  stay  Agreeable  and  we  will  have  such  of 
your  Guns  and  Tomhawks  which  are  out  of  order 
repaired  A  String  of  Wampum 

Col0  Wil  son5 6  then  desired  the  White  Mingo  to  de- 

4  Big  Knife  was  originally  the  Indian  appelation  for  the 
people  of  Virginia,  a  term  later  used  for  the  Americans  as  a 
whole.  For  its  origin  see  Thwaites,  Daniel  Boone  (New 
York,  1902),  p.  hi,  note. 

Onas  was  the  Indian  term  for  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  first  applied  in  1682  to  William  Penn. — Ed. 

6  James  Wilson  (1742-98),  a  prominent  Pennsylvania  states¬ 
man,  was  born  and  educated  in  Scotland.  Coming  to  America 
he  settled  in  Pennsylvania  (1766),  where  he  supported  the 


78 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


liver  the  Invitation  speech  sent  by  him  to  the  Mingoes 
which  he  did  and  is  also  as  follows  Brothers  Listen 
to  what  we  are  now  to  say  to  you  A  String  Broth¬ 
ers  a  very  large  Council  fire  has  been  lately  kindled 
at  Philadelphia  in  the  Country  of  your  Brother  Onas 
round  this  Council  fire  have  sat  Great  Men  sent  to 
speak  and  Act  for  all  the  following  Colonies  Viz’  New 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts  Bay,  Rhode  Island,  Con¬ 
necticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania  the 
Counties  of  New  Castle,  Kent  and  Sussex  upon  Dela¬ 
ware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia  these  Great  Men  have  Con¬ 
sulted  and  deliberated  Concerning  a  Controversy  that 
has  Arisen  between  the  White  People  who  live  on  this 
Island  and  some  of  the  English  who  live  on  the  other 
side  the  Great  Water  and  they  were  induced  by  the 
Antient  Harmony  and  Freindship  subsisting  between 
the  white  People  and  you  to  Inform  you  of  the  Cause 
of  this  Quarrel  and  in  what  Mannar  they  wish  to  be¬ 
have  they  will  advise  you  nothing  but  what  will 
Contribute  to  your  Peace  and  Advantage  as  well  as 
their  own  they  have  Appointed  a  Treaty  to  be  held 
with  you  and  have  directed  that  you  shall  receive  some 
presents  in  their  name  in  Order  to  Convince  you  of 
their  kindness  for  you  and  to  Preserve  Peace  and 
freindship  between  the  white  People  and  you  we  who 

patriot  cause,  and  was  delegate  to  the  second  Continental 
Congress.  By  this  body  he  was  chosen  commissioner  to  hold 
the  Indian  treaty  at  Fort  Pitt.  In  1776  he  signed  the  Declara¬ 
tion  of  Independence,  and  held  many  important  offices,  includ¬ 
ing  membership  in  the  Federal  constitutional  convention 
(1787),  and  in  the  Pennsylvania  convention  (1789-90).  Ap¬ 
pointed  by  Washington  (1789)  to  the  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States,  he  held  that  office  until  his  death. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


79 


are  three  of  the  Counsellors  round  the  Great  Council 
fire  at  Philadelphia  are  Authorised  to  hold  the  Treaty 
with  you  in  the  name  of  all  the  Great  Council  you 
may  beleive  our  Words  in  the  same  Manner  as  if  they 
all  spoke  to  you 

We  have  Chosen  Pitsburg  to  be  the  Place  and  the 
10th  day  of  next  Month  to  be  the  time  of  holding  the 
Treaty  and  give  you  this  Notice  expecting  and  Invit¬ 
ing  the  Cheif  Counsellors  and  Warriours  of  your  Na¬ 
tion  at  the  Treaty  that  we  may  behold  you  face 
to  face  Let  no  false  and  Wicked  Reports  that  may 
have  been  spread  abroad  Among  you  by  those  who  are 
both  Enemies  to  us  and  to  you  Prevent  you  from  com¬ 
ing  We  and  you  Sprung  from  the  same  Ground  and 
live  together  on  the  same  Island  we  Ought  to  live  to¬ 
gether  and  have  Confidence  in  Each  Other  we  will 
not  Deceive  you  that  what  we  have  now  said  to  you 
may  be  Confirmed  and  that  you  may  give  heed  to  it 
we  deliver  to-  you  by  the  hands  of  your  and  our  freind 
and  Brother  the  White  Mingo  this  String  A  String 
as  the  two  other  Commissioners  are  not  yet  Arrived  I 
on  their  behalf  as  well  as  in  my  own  name  Subscribe 
the  foregoing  Message 

(Signed)  James  Wilson 
at  Pitsburgh  the  25th  day  of  August  1775 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Commissioners  for  Indian  Af¬ 
fairs  as  well  those  Appointed  by  Congress  as  those 
from  Virginia  2dl  October  One  Thousand  Seven  Hun¬ 
dred  and  seventy  five 

Captain  White  Eyes  and  the  Delawares  not  being 


8o 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


yet  Arrived  the  Commissioners  Consulted  the  Cheifs 
of  the  Mingoes  Wiandots  Shawanese  Tawaas,  King 
Custaloga  and  Captain  Pipe  of  the  Delawares6 
whether  they  should  proceed  to  Business  or  to  wait 
the  Arrival  of  White  Eyes  and  the  other  Delawares 
who  all  gave  their  Opinion  that  a  Message  shou’d  be 
sent  to*  Hasten  them  whereupon  the  Commissioner  dis¬ 
patched  Thomas  Nicholson7  Interpreter  with  a  Dela¬ 
ware  Indian  to  meet  them  with  the  following  speech 


Brothers  the  Delawares  We  have  Anxiously  waited 
your  Arrival  and  hope  we  shall  have  the  Pleasure  to 
see  you  very  soon  as  our  Brethren  the  Six  Nations 
Wiandots  Ottawas  and  Shawanese  with  part  of  you[r] 
Nation  are  now  here  in  Conference  with  them  we 
have  agreed  to*  send  one  of  our  Young  Men  and  one 
of  yours  to  meet  you  and  to  request  that  you  will 
come  on  as  fast  as  Possible  that  we  may  begin  our 
Business  A  String 

6  Custaloga  was  a  prominent  chieftain  of  the  Wolf  clan  of 
the  Delawares.  He  removed  early  to  the  Ohio,  participated 
in  Pontiac’s  conspiracy,  and  in  1764  treated  with  Bouquet.  In 
1773,  Sir  Wililam  Johnson  informed  the  colonial  secretary 
that  Custaloga  with  one  hundred  of  his  followers  had  retired 
to  the  Wabash  River. 

Captain  Pipe  was  a  war-chief  who  had  been  hostile  during 
the  French  wars,  and  was  an  enemy  to  the  peace  party,  as 
well  as  to  the  missionaries  settled  among  his  tribe.  He  dis¬ 
sembled  during  the  first  part  of  the  Revolution,  but  by  1778 
removed  his  village  to  the  Sandusky,  within  the  sphere  of 
British  influence,  and  was  zealous  in  compassing  the  death  of 
Capt.  William  Crawford  (1782).  He  was  present  at  the 
treaties  of  Fort  McIntosh  (1785)  and  Fort  Harmar  (1789), 
but  apparently  died  before  that  of  Greenville  (i795)- — Ed. 

7  For  a  brief  notice  of  this  person  see  Dunmore’s  War , 
p.  13,  note  26. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


81 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  on  the  Part  of 
Virginia  the  7th  day  of  October  1775  Present 
Thomas  Walker  James  Wood  Andrew  Lewis  John 
Walker  Adam  Stephen  Comrs 

The  Wiandots  having  never  been  condoled  with 
Agreeable  to  their  Custom  since  the  last  War  for  the 
loss  of  their  freinds  who  fell  in  Battle  the  Commis¬ 
sioners  sent  for  them  into  A  Private  room  early  this 
Morning  and  delivered  to  them  the  following  speech 
of  Condolence 

Brothers  the  Wiandots  and  Cheifs  of  the  Cochana- 
wagas  on  Scioto8  you  may  remember  when  Lord 
Dunmore  and  your  Bretheren  of  Virginia  Assembled 
the  Nations  of  Indians  at  this  place  last  year  he  Ac¬ 
quainted  them  he  was  obliged  to  March  a  body  of  Men 
into  the  Shawanese  Country  as  he  had  a  dispute  with 
them  and  desired  all  other  Nations  would  keep  out  of 
the  way  but  some  of  your  young  Men  were  so  foolish 
not  to  Listen  to  your  Wisemen  but  wou’d  join  the 
other  foolish  People  and  Accidentally  got  killed  we 
now  take  the  Tomahawk  out  of  your  hands  and  As¬ 
sure  you  it  was  not  our  Intention  to  strike  your  Na¬ 
tion  and  bury  it  deep  in  the  Ground  that  no  Uneasi¬ 
ness  or  remembrance  of  it  may  Enter  into  your  Minds 
that  your  hearts  may  be  at  rest  while  you  sit  at  our 
Grand  Council  fire  with  these  few  goods  we  Cover 

8  Caughnawaga  was  a  mission  Indian  village — chiefly  of 
converted  Mohawks — on  the  south  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
just  above  Montreal.  The  Indians  of  this  and  similar  mis¬ 
sion  villages  were  frequently  utilized  by  the  French  in  war- 
parties.  After  the  overthrow  of  the  French  power,  many  of 
these  Indians  removed  west  and  settled  among  their  kindred 
tribesmen. — Ed. 

6 


t 


82 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


the  Graves  of  these  Unhappy  young  Men  which  fell  in 
Battle  and  desire  that  it  may  never  more  be  remem¬ 
bered  A  String  to  Each  Nation 

The  following  Goods  were  given  as  a  present  of 
Condolence  (Viz’)  two  Bundles  Each  Containing  as 
follows  one  for  the  Wiandots  and  the  others  for  the 
Cochanawagas  4  Black  Strouds  4  Ruffled  Shirts  4 
pair  of  Leggins  4  Matchcoats  1  Blanket  one  half 
to  be  tied  up  and  directed  to  Cochanawaga  the  other 
to  be  delivered  to  the  Wiandot  Cheif 


At  a  Meeting  of  all  the  Commissioners  for  Indian 
Affairs  October  7th  1775  Present  Lewis  Morris 
James  Wilson  Thomas  Walker  James  Wood  Andrew 
Lewis  John  Walker  Adam  Stephen  Comrs 

Captain  White  Eyes  and  the  Delawares  being  Ar¬ 
rived  and  the  Cheifs  of  the  Wiandots  Six  Nations 
Delawares  Shawanese  and  Tawaas  being  Assembled 
in  the  Council  House  Col°  Morris  delivered  the  fol¬ 
lowing  speech  to  them  To  the  Six  Nations  Wiandots 
Delawares  Shawanese  and  Ottawas  Cheif  Warriors 
and  Brothers  It  gives  us  Joy  to  see  you  now  meet 
together  at  the  Invitation  of  all  your  English  Bretheren 
who  live  on  this  Continent  and  who  have  Appointed 
a  Great  Council  to  be  held  in  the  great  City  of  your 
Brother  Onas  that  being  the  most  Convenient  place 
in  the  United  Colonies  It  is  from  that  Council  we 
are  sent  to  renew  and  more  perfectly  Establish  the 
Antient  Freindship  that  has  Subsisted  between  you 
and  us  we  therefore  Bretheren  bid  you  Welcome  to 
this  Council  fire  and  with  these  strings  we  wipe  the 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


83 


Dust  and  Sweat  Occasioned  by  the  Fatigues  of  your 
Journey  we  likewise  wipe  off  from  your  Memories 
and  Clear  your  Ears  from  any  Wicked  reports  which 
may  have  Tended  to  Interrupt  you  and  our  peace  and 
the  peace  of  our  Wives  and  Childeren  that  you  may 
Plainly  hear  and  Understand  what  we  say  to  you  A 
String  to  Each  Nation 

Bretheren  with  these  strings  we  dry  up  your  Tears 
for  the  Loss  of  your  Freinds  who  have  died  since 
your  last  assembly  at  this  Place  we  remove  all  Greif 
from  your  hearts  on  this  Account  that  your  minds 
may  be  at  ease  whilst  we  deliver  our  Embassy  to  you 
from  our  great  United  Council  of  Wise  men  now  As¬ 
sembled  at  Philadelphia  which  we  hope  you  will  hear 
with  as  much  pleasure  as  we  shall  deliver  it  and  we 
Collect  the  Bones  of  your  Deceased  freinds  and  Bury 
them  deep  in  the  Earth  and  Transplant  the  Tree  of 
Peace  over  them  that  our  Freindship  may  not  be  In¬ 
terrupted  nor  our  Minds  disturbed  at  the  Sight  of 
them  A  Large  String  to  Each  Nation  with  these 
strings  we  Clear  our  Council  House  and  desire  no 
discontent  may  be  allowed  to  Enter  therein  but  that 
we  may  Consult  together  with  Honest  Hearts  for 
your  and  our  Mutual  Peace  and  Happiness  A  String 
to  Each  Nation 

Bretheren  as  our  people  of  Virginia  first  proposed 
Meeting  you  here  and  Called  you  together  on  Busi¬ 
ness  which  relates  more  Particularly  to  them  though 
we  are  all  Interested  in  it  as  we  are  one  people  and 
one  flesh  and  Blood  we  shall  say  no  more  to  you  at 
this  time  untill  you  finish  that  Particular  Business 
with  them  which  we  hope  the  good  Spirit  will  put  it 


84 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


into  their  and  your  hearts  to  do  in  the  Most  Freindly 
Manner  as  Bretheren  who  wish  to  live  in  Love  and 
Peace  ought  to  do  It  is  however  Necessary  to  In¬ 
form  you  that  what  we  may  now  say  is  from  all  the 
Wisemen  of  all  our  Lrnited  Colonies  who  are  as  one 
Alan  and  that  Virginia  is  one  of  them  and  as  the 
right  Arm  so  that  you  must  not  beleive  those  who  tell 
you  that  the  Virginians  are  a  Distinct  People  The 
Country  of  your  Brother  Onas  is  also  one  of  the 
thirteen  United  Colonies  and  it  is  in  his  great  Town 
where  the  Wisemen  from  Virginia  and  all  the  other 
Provinces  now  sat  in  our  Grand  Council  therefore 
Bretheren  we  desire  you  to  pay  Attention  to  what  we 
have  said  the  day  after  tomorrow  we  will  be  ready 
to  hear  your  Answer  and  then  our  Bretheren  from  Vir¬ 
ginia  will  Open  to  you  their  Particular  Business 
when  you  and  they  have  finished  we  who  represent 
not  only  the  Colony  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  but 
all  the  other  Colonies  as  already  Mentioned  and  are 
sent  from  their  Grand  Council  now  siting  will  speak 
to  you  again  and  we  hope  that  not  only  you  and  we 
but  your  and  our  Childeren  and  their  Childerens 
Children  will  hear  of  and  remember  this  our  Aleet- 
ing  with  Pleasure  and  that  they  will  Distinguish  it 
by  the  Name  of  the  Blessed  Council  of  Peace  A 
Belt  to  Each  Nation 

Captain  White  Eyes  addressed  himself  to  the  In¬ 
dians  in  the  following  Words  Brothers  you  have 
now  heard  what  your  Brothers  the  White  People  have 
said  to  you  It  Ought  to  give  you  great  Pleasure  and 
I  beg  you  will  be  Strong  and  meet  them  at  the  time 
they  direct  he  then  delivered  the  following  Speech 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


85 


to  the  Commissioners  My  Dear  Brothers  On  Mon¬ 
day  Morning  we  will  meet  you  again  with  our  Ans¬ 
wer  we  will  then  let  you  know  who  are  the  People 
Pitched  upon  to  Negotiate  with  you  we  beg  you  will 
be  strong  and  be  Punctual  to  your  Appointment  we 
wish  some  Method  cou’d  be  taken  to  prevent  rum  be¬ 
ing  given  to  our  People  that  has  been  the  sole  Cause 
of  this  Meeting  not  being  fuller  Unless  this  is  Al¬ 
tered  it  will  Greatly  impede  our  Business 


At  a  Meeting  of  all  the  Commissioners  for  Indian 
Affairs  9th  October  1775  The  Cheifs  of  the  Differ¬ 
ent  Tribes  of  Indians  having  Assembled  agreeable  to 
the  Appointment  of  Saturday  Captain  White  Eyes 
spoke  to  the  Indians  as  follows  Uncles  the  Six  Na¬ 
tions  and  Wiandots  our  Grand  Children  the  Ottawas 
and  Shawanese  The  time  we  purposed  to  speak  to 
our  Brothers  the  White  people  is  Elapsed  it  is  Ow¬ 
ing  to  a  Misunderstanding  which  happened  this  Morn¬ 
ing  among  ourselves  our  Uncles  the  Six  Nations 
propose  Speaking  in  the  Morning  I  shall  now  speak 
on  Behalf  of  the  Wiandots  the  Shawanese  the  Tawaas 
and  my  own  Nation  he  then  Addressed  the  Commis¬ 
sioners  in  the  following  words  Brothers  we  are 
much  obliged  to  you  that  as  soon  as  we  Appeared  you 
wiped  the  Sweat  from  us  so  that  we  were  Quite  re¬ 
freshed  you  wiped  the  Tears  from  our  Eyes  and  re¬ 
moved  all  bad  Impressions  from  our  hearts  so  that 
we  are  Quite  at  Ease  you  have  also  told  us  that  you 
have  gathered  all  the  Bones  of  our  Deceased  relations 
and  Buried  them  deep  in  the  Ground  and  planted  a 


86 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


tree  upon  them  that  our  Children  or  foolish  young 
People  may  never  see  them  to  their  Disquiet  In  the 
name  of  our  Uncles  the  Wiandots  our  Grand  Children 
the  Shawanese  and  Tawaas  and  our  own  Nation  I 
Acquaint  you  we  are  much  irejoiced  and  return  you 
our  Sincere  thanks  A  String 

Brothers  Listen  to  me  I  now  Inform  you  that  we 
are  Extreemely  rejoiced  at  what  we  heard  the  day 
before  Yesterday  from  you  and  that  all  the  White 
People  Account  themselves  as  one  Body  and  that  Vir¬ 
ginia  is  not  alone  for  the  future  when  we  look  on 
you  we  shall  Esteem  you  all  one  People  our  reason 
Brothers  why  we  say  we  were  very  much  rejoiced  to 
hear  you  are  United  is  when  our  Brothers  the  White 
People  first  came  upon  this  Island  I  thought  they  and 
us  should  be  the  only  people  who  shou’d  live  on  it 
we  made  room  for  you  to  set  down  by  Us  Accordingly 
Brothers  I  have  now  Acquainted  you  what  we 
thought  when  you  first  Arrived  on  this  Land  I  now 
think  our  Treatment  to  you  then  is  the  Cause  of  the 
King  over  the  Big  Water  Striking  you  at  this  time  <1 
therefore  desire  you  not  to  think  much  of  it  but  think 
good  untill  we  hear  from  him  I  now  also  Acquaint 
you  that  my  Uncles  the  Wiandots  have  bound  them¬ 
selves  the  Shawanese  Tawaas  and  Delawares  together 
and  have  made  us  as  one  People  and  have  also  given 
me  that  Tract  of  Country  Beginning  at  the  Mouth  of 
Big  Beaver  Creek  and  running  up  the  same  to  where 
it  interlocks  with  the  Branches  of  Guyahoga  Creek 
and  down  the  said  Greek  to  the  Mouth  thereof  where 
it  empties  into  the  Lake  along  the  Side  of  the  Lake 
to  the  Mouth  of  Sanduskey  Creek  and  up  the  same 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


8  7 


to  the  head  untill  it  interlocks  with  Muskingum  down 
the  same  to  the  Mouth  where  it  Empties  into  the  Ohio 
and  up  the  said  River  to  the  Place  of  Beginning9 
I  also  now  Acquaint  my  Uncles  the  Six  Nations 
that  my  Uncles  the  Wiandots  have  given  me  that 
Tract  of  Country  as  we  have  now  Acquainted  you 
what  Lands  belongs  to  us  I  desire  you  will  not  Per¬ 
mit  any  of  your  foolish  People  to  sit  down  upon  it 
that  I  cannot  suffer  it  least  other  Nations  shou’d  be 
Uneasy.10/  A  Belt  of  Wampum 

Brother  I  am  Extreemly  rejoiced  to  hear  what 
you  said  to  me  the  day  before  Yesterday  and  also  to 
hear  you  call  upon  God  to  witness  and  Assist  us 
in  future  meetings  to  talk  of  the  Freindship  which 
is  between  us  and  the  reason  of  my  being  rejoiced  is 
that  we  are  poor  and  Ignorant  and  know  but  little 
of  Gods  Wisdom  but  you  have  him  in  your  heart 
and  are  more  capable  of  Judging  than  we  can  be 
and  as  you  have  made  Mention  of  that  heavenly 
freindship  which  proceeds  from  God  I  am  very  much 
pleased  and  take  hold  of  it  and  the  reason  of  my  be¬ 
ing  so  ready  and  willing  to  take  hold  of  it  is  that 
our  wise  forefathers  began  the  Blessed  Work  I  also 

9  White  Eyes  is  speaking  for  his  entire  tribe,  but  in  Indian 
parlance  the  singular  pronoun  is  generally  used.  He  has  here 
defined  the  limits  of  Delaware  territory. — Ed. 

10  This  no  doubt  is  the  speech  to  which  Heckewelder  refers 
in  Narrative  of  the  Mission  of  the  United  Brethren 
among  the  Delaware  and  Mohegan  Indians  (Phila.,  1820),  pp. 
140,  141,  when  he  says  that  White  Eyes  defied  the  Six  Nations 
and  made  the  most  bold  and  daring  address  ever  made  in  an 
Indian  council  by  an  individual  chief.  The  Iroquois  had  con¬ 
sidered  the  Delawares  as  their  subject  people.  White  Eyes, 
thinking  that  the  latter  would  join  the  British,  took  the  op¬ 
portunity  to  assert  the  Delawares’  independence. — Ed. 


88 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


inform  you  that  I  am  Extreamly  rejoiced  and  think 
it  was  God  Almighty  that  has  put  it  into  your  hearts 
to  offer  us  this  and  that  you  did  not  despise  us  tho 
poor  and  Ignorant  A  Belt 

I  now  Brother  Assure  you  I  am  very  Much  re¬ 
joiced  you  offer  me  your  hand  to  take  hold  of  I 
Gladly  Accept  it  and  shall  not  let  it  fall  to  the 
Ground  and  I  hope  God  Almighty  will  Endow  me 
with  Wisdom  to  treasure  it  up  in  my  heart  as  my 
Brothers 'the  English  do  we  now  desire  you  Broth¬ 
ers  to  be  strong  and  finish  the  Business  we  are  come 
about  that  we  may  be  able  to  Inform  the  other  Na-  . 
tions  what  we  have  been  about  and  when  we  have 
finished f  this  good  Work  there  will  never  be  any  Oc¬ 
casion  of  Difference  between  our  Childeren  and  your 
Childeren  but  that  they  will  have  reason  to  f  remem¬ 
ber  it  and  call  it  the  Blessed  Council  'of  Peace  A 
Belt 

Brothers  I  am  very  much  rejoiced  that  you  Ac¬ 
quainted  me  it  was  a  long  time  since  we  had  met  and 
as  some  of  1  our  great  Men  might  have  died  desired 
we  would  inform  you  who  Acted  in  their  Place  we 
now  inform  you  that  there 'are  three  tribes  of  us11 
Kalalamint  Walapachakin  and  Ohokon  or  Capn  Pipe 
are  the  Cheifs  Appointed  for  the  Delaware  Nation 
A  Belt 

Brothers  Listen  to  your  young  Sisters  the  Dela¬ 
wares  Women  we  are  very  Much  rejoiced  to  hear 

II  Referring  to  the  three  clans  of  the  tribe,  whose  totems 
were  respectively  the  turtle,  wolf,  and  bear.  The  first  of 
these  was  accorded  the  headship  of  the  tribe;  the  last  named 
were  usually  called  Munsee  (Munceys). — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


89 


you  and  our  Children  renewing  the  freindship  be¬ 
tween  you  and  them  this  is  what  your  Sisters  have 
said  to  you  and  our  paying  Attention  to  them  is  the 
reason  why  we  did  not  go  to  War  with  any  Nation 
whatsoever  as  God  Almighty  did  not  Create  us  to 
War  with  one  Another  we  now  also*  desire  you  will 
Acquaint  your  Mothers  our  Elder  Sisters  the  White 
Women  what  we  have  said  and  when  any  of  our  Chil¬ 
dren  shall  be  born  in  future  we  will  point  to  heaven 
and  tell  them  these  our  sentiments.  A  Belt  from  the 
Women 

Col0  Morris  then  Answered  Brothers  we  are 
obliged  to  you  for  your  Speech  we  are  well  pleased 
with  it  tomorrow  we  Expect  to  hear  the  Six  Na¬ 
tions 

The  Tawaas  Cheif  Shaganaba12  Addressed  the 
Commissioners  in  the  following  Words  Fathers  I 
thank  you  that  you  have  Wiped  the  Tears  from  my 
Eyes  the  Sweat  from  my  body  and  thoroughly 
cleansed  me  I  was  at  first  Unwilling  I  Acknowledge 
to  come  to  this  Treaty  from  evil  reports  I  had  heard 
and  which  I  have  now  found  to  be  falsehoods  my 
father  and  many  other  Cheifs  have  lately  Tasted  of 
Death  Accept  my  hearty  thanks  for  your  kind  Con¬ 
dolence  on  that  Occasion  I  Present  you  my  right 
hand  in  token  that  I  rejoice  to  see  you  United  nore 
shall  my  Children  be  Untold  of  it  Accept  this 
String  of  Wampum  as  a  Pledge  of  my  Sincerity  and 
Freindship  my  Fathers  knew  you  but  Unhappily  are 
no  more  I  have  now  found  the  road  to  your  Hospi- 

12  Shaganaba  was  the  son  of  the  renowned  Ottawa  chief 
Pontiac. — Ed. 


90 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


table  Mansions  nor  shall  it  be  Untrodden  by  my 
People  in  the  future13  A  String 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Commissoners  for  Indain  Af¬ 
fairs  as  well  those  from  Congress  as  those  from  Vir¬ 
ginia  October  10th  1775  Present  Lewis  Morris 
Thomas  Walker  James  Wilson  James  Wood  Andrew 
Lewis  John  Walker  Adam  Stephen  Comrs 

The  Indians  of  the  Different  Tribes  being  Arrived 
at  the  Council  House  at  12  °Clock  Chau  Chau  Chau 
sadea  Or  the  Flying  Crow  a  Cheif  of  the  Six  Na¬ 
tions  Addressed  the  Commissioners  in  the  following 
words  Brothers  Listen  you  have  wiped  the  Sweat 
from  our  Bodies  and  Cleared  our  Hearts  and  throats 
that  we  heard  your  good  speeches  with  pleasure  and 
have  us  now  fast  by  the  hand  we  now  Clear  your 
hearts  that  you  may  hear  us  with  Attention  and  Pro¬ 
ceed  with  your  good  Speeches  to  which  we  will  be 
very  Attentive  A  String 

Brothers  Onas,  listen  to  me  likewise  my  brothers 
the  big  knife  Listen  to  me  we  received  a  Speech 
from  each  of  you  Inviting  us  to  this  Council  fire  as 
soon  as  they  reached  us  we  rose  up  to  come  you 
there  told  us  you  wou’d  be  glad  from  your  hearts 
to  see  us  at  this  time  we  are  glad  in  our  hearts  to 
meet  you  the  Great  Men  from  Onas  and  Virginia 
and  Esteem  you  as  Much  as  if  all  the  Great  Men 

13  Another  and  more  eloquent  version  of  this  speech  is  given 
in  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series,  iii,  p.  1542.  It  is  also  to  be 
found  in  Draper  MSS.,  3D,  chap,  xiii,  where  it  is  given  as  a 
specimen  of  Indian  eloquence. — Ed. 


James  Wilson 

After  an  engraving  in  the  possession  of  the  Wisconsin 

Historical  Society 


4 


*  _ 


LIBRARY 

@F  THE 

UNIVERSITY  ol  ILLINOIS. 


. 

. 

■  . 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


91 


from  the  Sea  side  who  sent  you  were  Present  A 
String 

Brothers  Onas  and  Brothers  the  big  knife  Listen 
to  me  I  have  first  spoke  what  is  Customary  on  such 
Occasions  you  have  desired  us  to  Speak  our  Sen¬ 
timents  I  have  nothing  to  say  at  Present  I  came 
to  Listen  to  what  You  have  to  say  to  us  and  hope 
you  will  say  Nothing  but  what  is  good  and  from  your 
Hearts  that  all  my  Brothers  present  may  hear  you 
and  rejoice  when  I  have  heard  you  I  will  Consider 
and  give  you  an  Answer  v  A  String 

The  Half  King  of  the  Wiandots14  then  Spoke 
Brothers  of  the  Big  knife  Listen  to  me  when  I 
received  the  Message  sent  me  by  my  Brothers  the  big 
knife  our  Cheifs  were  Just  returned  from  a  Council 
held  at  the  House  of  Sir  William  Johnston  they 
were  very  much  Fatigued  and  sent  word  to  my 
People  on  this  side  the  Lake  to  Accept  the  Invita¬ 
tion  and  to  go  to  the  Council  and  Listen  which  is 
the  reason  you  now  see  us  here  What  I  have  heard 
I  like  very  well  and  I  shall  Attend  to  what  more  you 
have  to  say  and  our  Cheifs  will  I  hope  when  we  re¬ 
turn  be  very  well  Pleased  with  it  Likewise  I  hope 
God  Almighty  will  Allow  us  to  return  to  Our  Own 
Nation  in  Safety  A  Black  String 

Brother  the  Bigknife  I  am  glad  to  hear  what  you 

■  m 

14  The  Half-King  was  an  important  Wyandot  chief,  head 
of  the  Sandusky  branch  of  the  tribe,  his  village  being  at 
Upper  Sandusky.  In  1777  he  declared  against  the  Americans, 
and  headed  the  raid  that  defeated  Foreman,  as  well  as  that 
which  assailed  Fort  Randolph  in  1778.  He  was  also  promi¬ 
nent  in  the  defeat  of  Crawford  in  1782.  He  appears  to  have 
died  before  Wayne’s  treaty  in  1795. — Ed. 


92 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


have  said  to  us  to  our  Nephews  the  Delawares  to  our 
Young  Brothers  the  Shawanese  and  Tawaas  and  to  our 
Elder  Bretheren  the  Six  Nations  I  am  also  rejoiced 
that  on  our  Arrival  you  wiped  the  Sweat  from  us 
you  dried  up  our  Tears  that  you  set  our  hearts  at 
Ease  and  that  you  Cleared  our  Ears  that  we  might 
hear  the  good  things  you  have  to  say  to  us  I  make 
no  doubt  our  Cheifs  who  sent  us  here  will  be  Equally 
rejoiced  at  our  reception  when  they  are  Informed  of 
it  on  our  return15  A  Black  String 

The  Cornstalk  a  Shawanese  Cheif  came  forward  to 
the  Council  Board  and  Addressed  the  Commission¬ 
ers  as  follows  Brothers  I  imagined  all  Matters 
were  settled  last  fall  and  that  we  were  as  one  People 
I  now  find  that  there  is  a  bad  Wind  Blown  up  I 
know  not  from  whence  it  has  Arisen  but  I  desire 
the  White  People  will  search  into  it  I  hope  they 
will  not  let  that  Interrupt  the  Good  work  we  are  now 
about.  If  we  are  Strong  and  finish  the  good  work 
we  have  began  our  Children  now  Growing  up  will 
live  in  peace  but  if  we  regard  what  wicked  or  fool¬ 
ish  People  do  it  may  be  an  Impediment  to  our  live- 
ing  in  Freindship  when  we  received  the  Message 
from  our  Brothers  the  Bigknife  and  the  other  Colon¬ 
ies  we  Immediately  set  off  with  a  good  heart  to  meet 
them  determined  to  think  of  Nothing  bad  that  Passed 
Expecting  the  Good  things  our  King  had  sent  Us 
to  hear  at  this  Meeting  wou’d  be  the  Means  of  our 

15  John  Dodge,  who  at  the  request  of  Wood  accompanied 
the  Wyandot,  reports  to  the  following  effect:  that  upon  their 
return  to  Sandusky  they  found  their  tribesmen  preparing  for 
war,  which  the  account  of  their  deputies  quieted. — Almon’s  Re¬ 
membrancer,  viii,  pp.  73,  74. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


93 


Children  enjoying  a  lasting  Peace  at  the  Conclusion 
of  the  War  with  Lord  D unmare  last  fall  we  Mutu¬ 
ally  Promised  if  any  thing  shou’d  happen  bad  on 
Either  side  to  Inform  Each  other  of  it  I  now 
Brothers  Inform  you  that  some  of  my  foolish  Young 
Men  have  Burned  Several  Houses  at  the  Mouth  of 
the  big  Kanhawa  they  were  Pursued  by  the  White 
People  and  came  home  quite  Naked  having  Lost  their 
Cloaths  Blankets  &c  It  happened  about  ten  or  12 
days  ago;  To  monrow  I  will  send  off  two  of  my 
Young  Men  to  direct  my  People  to  sit  still  and  do 
no  mischeif  while  we  are  doing  Business  I  will  like¬ 
wise  Inform  the  Wiandots  and  Tawaas  and  hope  you 
will  send  to  your  young  people  and  direct  them  to 
do  ours  no  harm  untill  this  Business  is  finished  I  In¬ 
tended  last  Night  to  have  sent  off  my  Young  Men 
this  Morning  but  Considering  the  Weather  is  Cold 
I  detained  them  this  day  to  see  if  our  Brothers  wou’d 
not  take  Pity  on  them  and  give  them  something  to 
Cloath  them  and  Provisions  for  their  Journey  when 
the  Messenger  who  brought  me  this  Account  came 
off  the  Cheifs  were  getting  some  of  the  White  People 
who  were  at  the  Towns  to  write  and  a  Man  to  bring 
it  up  we  Expect  therefore  that  you  will  have  a  writ¬ 
ten  Account  in  a  day  or  two  A  String 

Col0  Morris  then  spoke  to  the  Different  Nations 
of  Indians  as  follows  Brothers  we  are  well  Pleased 
with  your  Speeches  of  Yesterday  and  to  day  and 
thank  you  for  them  and  will  withdraw  till  our 
Brothers  the  Virginians  have  finished  their  Particu¬ 
lar  Business**  with  you  we  are  Very  Glad  to  see  you 
so  desirous  of  taking  fast  hold  of  the  Chain  of 


94 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Freindship  and  hope  the  Great  and  Good  Spirit  will 
Preside  among  you  and  Guide  you  to  your  Mutual 
Satisfaction 

The  Gentlemen  from  the  Congress  then  withdrew 
and  the  Commissioners  from  Virginia  Opened  their 
Business  with  the  following  Speech  delivered  by 
John  Walker  To  the  Mingoes  Wiandots  Delawares 
Shawanese  and  Tawaas  Freinds  and  Bretheren  we 
are  sent  here  by  the  Grand  Council  of  our  Country, 
the  big  knife,  to1  take  you  by  the  hand  and  Welcome 
you  to  this  Council  fire,  to  which  we  have  Invited 
all  the  Ohio  Indians  and  other  Neighbouring  Na¬ 
tions  :  you  have  Accepted  the  Invitation  and  we  are 
heartily  Glad  to  see  you,  this  Council  we  hope,  will 
be  called  the  Blessed  Council  of  Peace,  and  the  Fame 
of  it  handed  Down  thro’  all  Generations  A  String 
to  Each  Nation 

Brothers  having  now  met  in  Council  agreeable  to 
the  Appointment  of  our  respective  Nations,  we  do 
with  this  belt  remove  from  our  Roads  all  Obstruc¬ 
tions,  that  both  your  and  our  People  may  have  free 
and  Easy  Access,  and  we  hope  they  will  be  so 
Troden  by  our  Mutual  Fireindly  Visits,  that  they  will 
be  forever  kept  open  A  Road  Belt 

Brothers  we  do  with  this  Belt  Brighten  the  Chain 
of  Freindship  between  us,  with  it  we  rub  off  any 
Rust  it  may  have  Contracted,  and  desire  you  may 
Continue  to  hold  fast  by  one  End  of  it,  so  long  as 
the  Clouds  shall  Produce  Rain,  or  the  Earth  Com 
on  our  part  you  may  depend  it  will  never  be  let  go, 
unless  you  wrest  it  out  of  our  hands,  by  Commenc¬ 
ing  Hostilities  against  us;  in  which  Case  you  must 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


95 


know,  that  you  will  be  but  as  one  Child  fighting 
against  its  family  of  an  Hundred  The  Chain  Belt 

Brothers  we  wish  to  Cultivate  so  strict  a  Freind- 
ship  with  you  as  that  your  Enemies  shou’d  be  Con¬ 
sidered  as  ours,  and  our  Enemies  as  yours ;  However, 
as  we  are  able  to  fight  our  Own  Battles  we  only  re¬ 
quest  of  you  (as  you  love  us,  and  regard  your  Own 
Welfare)  to  Continue  in  Peace  and  Suffer  the  Tom- 
hawk  which  is  so  deep  Buried  to  lie  Still  and  the 
Tree  which  is  Planted  thereon  to  grow  and  flourish  in 
such  Manner,  that  both  your  and  our  Childrens  Chil¬ 
dren,  may  reap  the  fruits  of  it. 

Brothers  you  have  no  doubt  heard  of  the  dispute 
between  us  and  some  of  our  Fathers  evil  Counsel¬ 
lors  beyond  the  Great  Water,16  in  this  dispute  your 
Interest  is  Involved  with  ours  so  far  as  this,  that  in 
Case  those  People  with  whom  we  are  Contending 
shou’d  Subdue  us,  your  Lands  your  Trade  your  Lib¬ 
erty  and  all  that  is  dear  to  you  must  fall  with  us, 
for  if  they  wou’d  Distroy  our  flesh  and  Spill  our 
Blood  which  is  the  same  with  theirs ;  what  can  you 
who  are  no  way  related  to  or  Connected  with  them 
Expect?  and  further,  Suppose  you  were  Inclined 
to  Join  our  Enemies,  how  Cou’d  you  Act  in  Conjunc¬ 
tion  with  them?  they  Cannot  Pass  through  us  tc 
your  Country  Neither  cou’d  you  get  to  them.  Not¬ 
withstanding  all  this,  we  only  ask  of  you  to  Stay  at 

16  See  the  allegory  by  which  the  dispute  was  explained  to 
thetnbesmen  under  the  figure  of  a  cruel  father’s  treatment 
of  his  little  son,  in  Heckewelder’s  Narrative ,  pp.  137-140.  See 
also  Amer.  Archives ,  4th  series,  iii,  pp.  482,  483. — Ed. 


96 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


home,  to  take  Care  of  your  Women  and  Children, 
and  follow  other  Usual  Occupations :  we  are  not 
Affraid  these  People  will  Conquer  us,  they  Can’t 
fight  in  our  Country,  and  you  Know  we  Can ;  we 
fear  not  them,  nor  any  Power  on  Earth 

Brothers  the  thirteen  great  Colonies  of  this  Ex¬ 
tensive  Continent,  Comprehending  in  the  whole,  at 
least  One  Million  of  Fighting  Men,  are  now  so 
firmly  United  and  Inseparably  bound  together  by  one 
lasting  Chain  of  Freindship,  that  we  are  no  more  to 
be  Considered  as  Distinct  Nations,  but  as  one  great 
and  Strong  Man,  who  if  Molested  in  any  one  of  his 
Members,  will  not  fail  to  Exert  the  Combined  force 
of  his  whole  Body  to  Punish  the  Offender,  we  have 
already  sent  some  of  our  Men  to  Assist  our  Breth- 
eren  at  Boston,  and  so  far  as  the  Contest  has  been 
hitherto  Carried  on  we  have  Proved  Successful  our 
Enemies  are  Confined  to  their  Ships  and  entrench¬ 
ments  and  we  Expect  will  Shortly  be  Almost  all 
Starved  or  Slain  and  that  the  few  who  shall  Escape 
from  famine  and  Sword  will  be  forced  to  fly  to  their 
own  Country  for  Shelter 

Brothers  we  can  with  Pleasure  Inform  you  that 
several  Indian  Nations  in  the  North  have  Offered 
to  take  up  the  Tomhawk  in  our  favor,  that  the 
People  in  Canada  except  a  few  of  Governor  Carl¬ 
tons17  Fools  are  friendly  towards  us,  that  they  have 

17  Guy  Carleton  (1724-1808),  an  eminent  English  soldier, 
was  at  this  time  governor  of  Canada.  He  resigned  upon  Bur- 
goyne’s  appointment,  and  was  replaced  (1778)  by  Haldimand. 
In  1782,  Carleton  was  made  commander-in-chief  for  British 
America,  his  policy  being  one  of  clemency  and  conciliation. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


9  Z 


absolutely  refused,  when  Ordered  by  him,  to  Strike 
us,  and  that  it  is  not  Improbable  they  will  in  a  Short 
time  deliver  him  a  Prisoner  into  our  Hands. 

Brothers  If  any  other  Nation  or  Nations  shou’d 
take  up  the  Tomhawk  and  Endeavour  to  Strike  us  it 
wou'd  be  Kind  in  you  to  give  us  Notice  and  Use 
your  best  Endeavours  to  Prevent  the  Stroke,  for  it 
must  be  your  Interest  to  live  in  Peace  and  Amity 
with  such  near  and  Powerfull  Neighbours  and  this  is 
all  we  Ask  A  String  to  Each  Nation 

Brothers  the  Mingoes  we  desire  to  bury  in  Ob¬ 
livion  all  that  has  past,  and  brighten  the  Chain  of 
Freindship  with  you  whatever  happened  to  some  of 
your  Young  people  last  fall,  was  Owing  to  their 
disregarding  the  Wise  Councils  of  the  Six  Nations; 
we  hope  the  good  Advice  they  will  receive  from  you, 
and  them,  will  Prevent  any  Mischief  in  future  A 
String 

Brothers  the  Wiandots  we  have  had  good  Ac¬ 
counts  of  you  from  our  people  who  have  been 
Among  you  they  tell  us  you  are  a  good  and  sensi¬ 
ble  Nation  we  desire  you  will  give  Ear  to  no  Idle 
reports  you  may  hear  from  the  Commanding  Officer 
at  Fort  Detroit  who  will  Endeavour  to  deceive  you 
we  have  already  discovered  Many  of  their  Fals- 
hoods  we  desire  to  live  in  Peace  with  you,  and 
hope  you  will  Acquaint  your  Neighbouring  Nations 
with  what  we  have  said  A  String 

Returning  to  England  in  1783  he  again  came  out  to  Canada  in 
1786  as  governor,  this  time  under  the  title  of  Lord  Dorchester. 
After  retaining  the  office  for  ten  years,  he  retired  from  public 
life. — Ed. 

7 


1 


98 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Brothers  the  Delawares  we  Esteem  you  a  Wise 
people  for  not  engaging  in  the  War  last  Summer 
and  you  may  depend  upon  our  freifidship^  agreeable 
to  Lord  Dunmores  Promise  A  String 

Brothers  the  Shawanese  "  we  have  returned  you 
your  Hostages  safe  and  Trust  they  can  say  nothing 
but  good  of  us  It  is  our  Earnest  desire  to  live  in 
Peace  with  you,  should  any  of  our  People  Molest 
you,  we  will  Endeavour  to  bring  them  to  Justice  and 
shou’d  any  of  yours  Molest  us  we  Expect  you  will 
Punish  them  A  String 

Brothers  the  Tawaas  we  are  exceedingly  rejoiced 
to  see  you  here  we  have  heard  much  of  your  Kind¬ 
ness  and  Hospitality  Especially  of  your  freindship  to 
young  Feild  who  was  delivered  you  by  the  Shaw¬ 
anese,  he  is  well  and  has  a  Gratefull  Rememberance 
of  your  Favors.  One  Act  of  Humanity  does  a  Na¬ 
tion  more  Grace  in  the  sight  both  of  God  and  Man, 
than  an  hundred  Cruelties,  your  Behaviour  to  young 
Feild  will  indear  you  to  all  the  White  People,  now 
you  have  found  the  Way  to  this  Council  fire,  we  hope 
we  shall  often  meet  at  it  to  brighten  the  Chain  of 
Friendship  between  us  we  desire  you  will  Listen  to 
no  evil  reports  of  our  Mutual  Enemies,  shou’d  you 
hear  of  any  Mischeif  Intended  us  you  will  do  well 
to  Inform  us  and  do  all  in  your  Power  to  Prevent 
it,  and  we  desire  you  will  Acquaint  your  Neighbour¬ 
ing  Nations  of  what  we  have  said  to  you  A  String 

To  the  whole  Nations  Present  we  have  reason  to 
Beleive  great  Uneasinesses  and  Jealousies  have  Pre¬ 
vailed  Amongst  you  respecting  our  Intention  of  mak¬ 
ing  Encroachments  on  your  Lands  we  take  this  Op- 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


99 


portunity  of  Assuring  you  that  we  have  not  the  most 
Distant  thought  of  Possessing  any  part  of  your  Lands 
you  must  all  be  sensible  that  the  Lands  on  this  side 
Ohio  as  fair  down  as  the  C[h]erokee  River18  was  Pur¬ 
chased  at  the  Treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  by  Sir  Will¬ 
iam  Johnston19  for  the  King  of  England  who  has 
since  sold  it  to  his  Childeren  on  this  Continent  and 
which  they  now  Expect  to  Enjoy  in  Peace  A  Belt 

Brothers  we  Expect  you  have  brought  with  you 
and  are  ready  to  Deliver  up  all  our  Flesh  and  Blood 
our  Negroes  and  all  that  belongs  to  us  and  that  you 
are  prepared  to  make  restitution  for  all  Damages 
agreeable  to  the  Terms  Stipulated  between  you  and 
Lord  Dunmore  last  Fall  A  String 

The  Flying  Crow  then  Replied  Brother  the  Big- 
knife  It  gives  me  great  Satisfaction  to  hear  what 
you  have  said,  it  puts  me  in  mind  of  our  wise  fore¬ 
fathers  Beleive  me  when  I  assure  you  it  has  sunk 
deep  into  my  heart  I  firmly  beleive  every  thing  you 
have  said  to  me  and  will  duly  Consider  it  as  its 
Consequence  deserves  and  will  then  give  you  my 
Answer  to  it  you  may  depend  the  Six  Nations  will 
be  strong  in  Peace  and  we  hope  the  Other  Nations 
will  be  the  same 

White  Eyes  then  Addressed  the  Commissioners 
and  the  Different  Tribes  of  the  Indians  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  Manner  Uncles  the  Six  Nations  And  Grand 
Children  the  Shawanese  and  Tawaas  I  am  much  re- 

18  The  Tennessee  was  frequently  known  as  Cherokee  River, 
because  that  tribe  dwelt  upon  its  upper  waters. — Ed. 

19  Sir  William  Johnson,  for  many  years  superintendent  of 
Indian  affairs,  held  this  important  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix  in 
1768,  and  died  in  1774. — Ed. 


IOO 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


joiced  at  what  I  have  heard  from  our  brother  the 
bigknife 

Brothers  the  bigknife I  I  am  extremely  rejoiced  to 
hear  the  many  good  things  you  have  said  to  me  as  my 
Heart  Desires  nothing  but  what  is  good  I  lay  hold  on 
the  least  Appearance  of  it  Uncles  the  Six  Nations  and 
Wiandots  and  all  who  are  here  present  I  hope  we 
shall  be  able  to  finish  the  Good  work  we  are  now 
about  so  Effectually  that  our  Children  and  our  Chil¬ 
drens  Children  shall  be  able  to  live  in  peace  from 
it  and  as  soon  as  all  my  Bretheren  have  fully  Con¬ 
sidered  of  what  you  now  have  said  to  us  we  Will 
return  an  Answer 

Corn  Stalk  then  Spoke  as  follows  Brothers  the  Big- 
knife  as  you  have  desired  we  shou’d  deliver  you 
your  flesh  and  Blood  and  your  Negroes  we  will  give 
you  an  Answer  to  morrow  respecting  that  Matter 


At  a  Conference  Continued  and  held  with  the 
Shawanese  on  the  11th  October  1775  Present 
Thomas  Walker,  Andrew  Lewis,  James  Wood  John 
Walker  Adam  Stephen  Commrs 

The  Cornstalk  addressed  the  Commissioners  My 
Old  Brothers  the  Bigknife  In  our  Councils  last  fall 
when  we  were  settling  every  thing  we  made  our¬ 
selves  one  Body  and  Promised  to  Each  Other  at  the 
same  time  that  if  any  Mischeif  shou’d  happen  through 
the  inadvertency  of  foolish  Young  People  that  we 
wou’d  not  keep  it  a  Secreet  from  one  another  but  Se¬ 
riously  Consider  and  have  it  rectified  when  I  left 
home  I  Assembled  my  Young  Men  and  told  them 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


IOI 


I  was  going  to  Treat  with  my  Bretheren  the  Eng¬ 
lish  and  if  any  foolish  People  shou’d  spread  any  bad 
reports  not  to  listen  to  it  as  I  had  nothing  in  my 
heart  but  what  was  good  we  had  not  forgot  where 
the  Mischeif  a  rose  from  the  foolish  People  who  are 
endeavouring  to  Overset  our  Freindship  I  will  now 
Inform  you  that  Just  before  our  Young  Men  left  our 
Towns  twenty  Wiandots  and  Tawaas  came  there  and 
desired  their  Brothers  the  Shawanese  to  Listen  to 
what  they  had  to  say  which  was  this  Brothers  I 
now  desire  you  to  make  yourselves  ready  and  to  se¬ 
cure  your  Provisions  for  it  will  not  be  long  before 
a  Body  of  the  White  People  will  Strike  you  they 
have  already  divided  your  Nation  by  calling  one  half 
of  you  to  a  Treaty  at  Pitsburg  where  they  Informed 
you  that  they  had  good  to  say  to  you  but  it  was  only 
to  deceive  you  they  desired  the  Warriors  to  get  their 
Mocoasins  ready  and  to  go  and  Watch  the  Mouths  of 
Muskingum,  Hockhockin  the  big  Kanhawa  and  Ken- 
tucke  for  there  wou’d  be  a  great  number  of  the  Vir¬ 
ginia  Warriors  to  strike  them  the  King  of  the  Wi¬ 
andots  and  wise  men  who  live  at  Detroit  sent  them  on 
a  very  different  Errand  they  told  these  Twenty 
Wiandots  and  Tawaas  to  go  to  their  Young  brothers 
the  Shawanese  and  as  they  were  Unsetled  On  Ac¬ 
count  of  the  Disputes  between  their  Elder  Brothers 
of  Virginia  and  them  they  had  sent  them  to  Kindle 
their  Council  fire  Anew  and  to  gather  the  Bones  of 
their  Dead  who  fell  in  the  War  and  to  Bury  them 
and  remove  all  Grief  from  their  Hearts  that  they 
might  sit  in  Peace  and  Quietness  this  is  what  they 
were  sent  for  and  not  to  spread  bad  reports  when 


102 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


the  Tawaas  and  Wiandots  came  to  Pluggies  Town 
the  Mingoes  Cheif  Called  the  Stone  and  another  Cheif 
called  the  Black  Wolf  Invited  them  to  a  Council  and 
there  put  these  evil  Stories  in  their  heads  and  made 
them  forget  the  good  things  their  Cheifs  had  charged 
them  with  their  telling  these  foolish  things  to  my 
young  Men  made  them  go  and  do  harm  to  my  broth¬ 
ers  the  English  unknown  to<  our  Chief  Kisquaquawha 
[who]  was  sick  or  he  would  have  Prevented  them 
I  also  Inform  you  that  two  of  the  Wiandots  and 
Pluggies  son  one  of  the  Six  Nations  with  two  of  our 
foolish  Young  Men  who  they  Persuaded  to  go  with 
them  Pretending  they  did  not  know  the  road  are 
gone  to  the  Mouth  of  Kentucke  to  look  at  the  white 
People  no  doubt  their  taking  our  Young  Men  was  to 
throw  the  blame  on  our  Nation20  to  which  Col0 
Lewis  replied  Brothers  The  Natural  Consequence 
of  what  had  happened  will  be  that  the  white  People 
will  go  into  the  Fort  at  which  you  need  not  be 
Alarmed  we  will  send  to  desire  our  People  to  keep 
their  Own  side  of  the  River  and  to  do  you  no  harm 
and  would  recommend  it  to  you  to  send  to  your 
People  to  do  the  same  The  Cornstalk  Answered 
This  is  our  Intention 

Brothers  we  have  now  Informed  you  what  we 
have  heard  and  your  seeing  a  Number  of  us  here 
both  Men  and  Women  may  convince  you  we  had  no 
such  thoughts  in  our  Hearts  when  we  left  our  Towns 

20  On  Dec.  23,  just  outside  of  Boonesborough,  this  party 
fired  upon  Col.  Arthur  Campbell  and  two  lads  named  Sanders 
and  McQuinney.  The  former  escaped,  the  latter  was  killed, 
and  Sanders  was  never  again  heard  from.  See  Draper  MSS., 
4B55.— Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


103 


% 

Whatever  has  happened  is  Owing  to  the  Advice  of 
bad  People  who  no  doubt  Envy  us  as  they  see  us 
and  our  Elder  Brothers  the  Big  knife  as  one  People 
If  it  had  been  known  to  the  Wise  People  of  your 
young  Brothers  the  Shawanese  they  would  have  Pre¬ 
vented  it  The  Cheif  who  we  left  to  take  Care  of 
our  Young  People  was  sick  and  knew  Nothing  of 
their  going  we  Acquainted  you  we  were  going  to  send 
two  of  our  Young  Men  to  our  Towns  I  shall  send 
my  own  son  Allanawissica  and  Kataawa  with  Speeches 
to  my  Nation  as  the  Weather  is  grown  cold  they 
hope  you  will  give  them  some  Cloathes  and  Pro¬ 
visions  for  their  Journey 

Brothers  listen  to  me  when  we  held  a  Council 
last  Fall  you  desired  us  to  deliver  up  your  Flesh  and 
Blood  your  Negroes  your  Horses  and  every  thing 
that  belonged  to  you  our  Brother  Col0  Stephen 
was  here  and  remembers  every  thing  that  Passed  as 
soon  as  we  heard  it  we  Immediately  Complied  and 
Delivered  you  up  all  your  flesh  and  Blood  your  Ne¬ 
groes  and  Horses  and  all  that  belonged  to  you  not 
only  at  that  time  but  when  they  were  Demanded 
twice  before  in  the  Winter  I  received  a  Message 
from  the  Commanding  Officer  at  the  Kanhawa  my 
father  the  whitefish  and  myself  went  through  the 
Towns  hunted  up  the  Horses  and  Delivered  him 
eight  when  the  Governor  Demanded  our  Relations 
the  White  People  he  told  us  he  only  wanted  them  to 
go  and  see  their  relations  and  they  should  be  at  lib¬ 
erty  if  they  did  not  like  to  stay  with  the  white  People 
to  return  to  us  when  we  brought  them  among  us 
they  were  then  Subservient  to  our  Commands  but  when 


104 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


we  had  delivered  them  up  to  the  White  People  and 
they  returned  of  their  Own  Accord  they  were  as  free 
as  ourselves  and  no  longer  under  our  Controul  when 
I  went  home  I  Informed  them  that  some  of  their 
white  relations  were  desirous  of  seeing  them  and  told 
them  to  go  and  see  their  Relations  they  began  to 
Cry  and  said  they  were  not  Slaves  that  they  shou’d 
be  forced  away  for  they  had  it  in  their  own  Choice 
where  they  would  stay  last  spring  when  some  of  the 
Cherokees  robbed  your  People  on  the  Kentucke  we 
Immediately  set  off  took  two  of  the  Horses  from  them 
and  delivered  them  at  the  Mouth  of  Kanhawa  and 
when  the  Negro  Woman  made  her  Escape  from  that 
Place  and  Came  to  our  Towns  on  her  being  De¬ 
manded  we  delivered  her  when  we  did  this  Captain 
Russell  said  he  was  a  little  Sorry  to  Ask  so  much 
but  that  the  Owner  insisted  upon  having  the  two 
Children  brought  in  that  he  thought  it  was  too  much 
as  they  had  been  all  Winter  Delivering  Horses  and 
Performing  every  Promise  they  had  made  in  the  Win¬ 
ter  Captain  Russell  sent  five  of  his  Men  to  our 
Towns  we  Delivered  the  Negro  Wench  but  told  him 
as  the  Children  were  Bagat  by  our  People  we  thought 
it  very  hard  they  shou’d  be  made  Slaves  of  as  the 
Negm  Woman  is  delivered  up  she  will  soon  have 
more  Children  at  the  same  time  they  Demanded 
Horses  from  us  we  Informed  them  we  had  delivered 
up  all  the  Horses  we  had  belonging  to  the  White 
People  and  that  Many  of  our  People  had  delivered 
up  their  own  Horses  in  leiu  of  yours  which  cou’d  not 
be  found  we  likewise  told  them  that  ours  was  not 
the  only  Nation  who  had  stolen  their  Horses  I  now 


Gov.  Patrick  Henry 

After  the  painting  by  Sully 


. 


#f  THE 

UNIVERSITY  *  ILLINOIS, 


■ 


_ 2f|  _ _ 


^r\ 

-j-i 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS  105 

Inform  you  we  have  Delivered  up  all  your  Horses  and 
all  your  Negroes  Except  One  Negro  Man  who  run¬ 
away  from  the  Mouth  of  Hockhockan  Who  threatens 
to  kill  either  White  Man  or  Indian  who  shall  Attempt 
to  Molest  him 

Brothers  I  now  Inform  you  we  have  delivered  up 
all  we  possibly  can  and  as  we  are  one  People  I  hope 
you  will  not  Ask  more  of  us  what  white  People  re¬ 
main  among  us  are  their  own  Masters  and  may  do  as 
they  Please  the  Young  white  Man  who  is  here  has 
been  to  see  his  Relations  if  he  Chooses  to  stay  with 
them  we  have  no  Objection  if  he  Chooses  to  return 
we  Cannot  Prevent  him  we  will  endeavour  to  Per¬ 
suade  him  to  Either  but  let  his  own  Choice  direct 
him  ’tis  true  our  Manner  of  living  is  not  like  the 
white  Peoples  we  suppose  that  is  the  reason  why  their 
freinds  are  Unwilling  they  shou’d  live  Among  us 

Brothers  we  now  Inform  you  if  any  of  your  flesh 
and  Blood  Choose  to  return  to  their  relations  or  if  any 
of  their  freinds  come  to  our  Country  for  them  we  shall 
never  Attempt  to  Hinder  them  and  as  you  Yesterday 
Cleared  the  Road  of  all  Obstructions  between  you  and 
us  It  will  be  the  Means  of  making  our  freindship  more 
firm  and  Lasting  A  String 


At  a  Conference  Continued  and  held  at  Pitsburg 
with  the  Different  Nations  of  Indians  12th  October 
1775  Present  Thomas  Walker  Andrew  Lewis  James 
Wood  Adam  Stephen  Commrs 

Thomas  Walker  Esqr  delivered  the  following  speech 
to  the  Shawanese  in  Answer  to  theirs  of  Yesterday 


io6 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Brothers  we  are  sensible  you  delivered  up  a  Consid¬ 
erable  Number  of  Horses  and  Prisoners  to  Lord  Dun- 
more  at  Camp  Charlotte  we  are  likewise  Sensible 
that  you  delivered  some  Horses  to  the  Commanding 
Officer  at  the  Kanhawa  in  so  doing  you  performed 
part  of  what  you  Promised  and  so  far  Supported  the 
Honor  and  Dignity  of  the  Shawanese  Nation  you 
told  us  Yesterday  you  had  delivered  up  all  our  flesh 
and  Blood  in  this  you  are  Mistaken  there  are  many 
of  our  People  still  among  you  several  of  whom  are 
not  of  a  Proper  Age  to  Judge  for  themselves  and 
therefore  ought  to  be  Under  the  Controul  of  their 
Freinds  many  Negroes  and  Horses  which  were  taken 
from  us  are  Still  Wanting  a  Particular  Account  of 
them  we  will  give  you  at  any  time 

Brothers  you  have  promised  that  our  people  shou’d 
be  at  Liberty  to  (return  to  their  relations  and  that  if 
any  of  our  Freinds  shou’d  go  to  your  Nation  for  their 
Children  or  relations  who  are  too  Young  to  Judge  for 
themselves  you  that  are  now  present  will  deliver  them 
to  such  persons  we  also  Expect  that  you  will  Assist 
any  of  our  People  that  go  for  Negroes  or  horses  in 
geting  such  Negroes  and  Horses  belonging  to  them 
or  any  of  us  and  as  you  have  not  fully  Performed 
your  Engagements  with  Lord  Dunmore  we  Expect 
that  you  will  Continue  the  Hostages  with  us  or  others 
in  their  stead  until  the  whole  of  your  Promises  are 
Complied  with 

Brothers  your  two  Young  Men  going  with  the 
Wiandots  and  Pluggies  Son  to  Kentucke  will  Prob¬ 
ably  Occasion  some  uneasiness  Amongst  the  Inhabi¬ 
tants  of  that  Place  and  if  they  Behave  amiss  some  of 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


107 


them  Perhaps  may  be  killed  We  recommend  it  to 
you  to  advise  your  People  and  all  the  other  Indians 
not  to  go  over  the  Ohio  without  Necessary  Business 
and  to  Consult  their  Nation  before  they  go  also  to 
take  with  them  some  white  Person  of  Credit  to  Ac¬ 
quaint  the  Inhabitants  of  their  Business  A  String 
The  flying  Crow  a  Cheif  of  the  Six  Nations  then 
addressed  himself  to  the  Commissioners  Brothers  the 
Bigknife  Listen  to  what  I  now  say  you  told  us 
Yesterday  that  you  had  spoke  all  you  had  to  say  and 
Desired  our  Answer  what  we  have  heard  from  you 
is  Just  and  right  and  we  are  well  Pleased  with  it  and 
hope  that  all  the  Nations  present  do  Approve  it  like¬ 
wise  and  now  you  shall  hear  what  we  have  to  say 
to  you  A  String  Brothers  the  Bigknife  listen  like¬ 
wise  brother  Onas  listen  you  told  us  in  your  Speech 
that  you  Understood  we  thought  you  had  an  Inten¬ 
tion  of  taking  our  Lands  from  us  you  then  Assured 
us  you  had  no  such  Desire  It  is  true  we  all  Sus¬ 
pected  that  you  Intended  to  encroach  upon  our  Lands 
but  we  are  now  Satisfied  and  believe  you  have  no 
such  Intention  as  we  think  that  our  Brothers  have 
spoke  the  real  Sentiments  of  your  Hearts  and  not 
from  your  Lips  only  you  must  no  doubt  know  what 
Lands  we  have  heretofore  Granted  you  and  we  Ex¬ 
pect  that  you  will  not  Suffer  any  of  your  foolish  young 
Men  to  settle  or  encroach  upon  our  Lands  the  Boun¬ 
daries  you  Mentioned  were  Settled  by  our  respective 
Cheifs  and  we  hope  you  will  Observe  them  and  make 
no  Encroachments  upon  us  that  our  Children  may 
Continue  to  live  in  Peace  and  Freindship  A  Belt 
Brothres  the  bigknife  and  Onas  listen  to  me  we 


io8 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


have  heard  what  you  have  said  and  like  it  well  and 
shall  Carefully  Observe  your  Advice  to  us  and  sit 
Still  we  and  all  the  Nations  present  have  now  fast 
hold  of  the  Chain  of  Fireindship  and  you  may  be  As¬ 
sured  that  we  will  not  suffer  it  to  Slip  through  our 
hands  and  hope  you  have  the  same  Strong  hold  of 
it  A  Belt 

Kiashota  another  Cheif  of  the  Six  Nations  then 
Spoke  Brothers  the  big  knife  and  Onas  listen  Every 
thing  you  have  said  We  like  and  return  you  our  Sin¬ 
cere  thanks  Brothers  Onas  and  the  bigknife  we  have 
not  much  to  say  but  what  we  do  say  I  hope  you  will 
Attend  to  I  Observe  that  there  are  some  Differences 
between  yourselves  I  advise  you  to  be  Strong  and 
let  no  Disputes  be  Among  you  that  our  Council  fire 
may  be  well  Kindled  and  burn  Clear  so  that  when  we 
are  hereafter  invited  to  it  we  may  come  with  Pleasure 
Brothers  the  Bigknife  and  Brother  Onas  I  advise 
you  to  what  is  good  for  yourselves  I  now  Assure 
you  that  the  six  Nations  have  a  strong  hold  of  the 
Chain  of  Freindship  and  with  these  Belts  I  bind  fast 
in  freindship  my  Brothers  the  Wiandots,  Delawares 
Shawanese  and  Tawaas  with  you  Three  Belts  one 
to  each  Nation  ! 

White  Eyes  then  Addressed  the  Indians  as  fol¬ 
lows  Brothers  listen  to  me  you  heard  me  tell  our 
Bretheren  the  English  that  I  hoped  we  should  finish 
the  good  work  we  had  began  and  as  our  Brothers  de¬ 
sired  us  to  remove  all  Obstructions  out  of  the  road 
that  our  Young  Men  Women  and  Children  might 
Pass  and  repass  Unmolested  and  that  the  Freindship 
which  has  been  made  between  us  in  the  presence  of 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


109 


God  Almighty  may  be  Lasting  and  Strong  and  as  we 
know  the  Bounds  of  the  Lands  Claimed  by  our 
Brothers  Extends  as  far  as  the  Mouth  of  the  Chero¬ 
kee  River  I  for  my  part  will  be  Strong  and  Prevent 
my  young  Men  from  hunting  thereon  for  I  had  rather 
they  wou’d  employ  themselves  in  planting  Corn  in 
their  Own  feilds  than  that  any  Mischeif  should  hap¬ 
pen  by  their  hunting  Delivers  the  Road  and  Freind- 
ship  Belts  to  the  Wiandots 
Brothers  the  day  before  Yesterday  our  brothers 
the  English  Acquainted  us  that  all  the  White  People 
in  this  Island  had  now  become  as  one  Man  and  de¬ 
sired  us  to  be  Strong  and  to  hold  fast  of  the  Chain 
of  Freindship  that  subsists  between  us  and  them  for 
our  parts  we  are  but  poor  and  Ignorant  and  desire 
nothing  but  to  Preserve  the  Freindship  and  as  we 
have  now  told  our  Brothers  the  English  that  we  have 
all  taken  fast  hold  of  the  Chain  of  Freindship  let  us 
be  strong  and  on  our  Parts  let  none  of  us  Attempt  to 
do  any  thing  that  will  weaken  it  in  the  Least  our 
old  Cheif  who  you  now  see  here  as  well  as  our  Other 
Old  Cheif  who  we  left  sick  in  our  Town  desired  us 
to  go  and  Listen  to  the  Speeches  that  shou’d  be  made 
to  us  and  embrace  every  thing  that  was  good  Uncles 
the  Six  Nations  as  you  Count  yourselves  strong  in 
your  Heart  and  as  you  say  Command  the  Hearts  of 
all  other  Nations  of  Indians  I  now  desire  you  to  be 
Strong  and  Acquaint  them  of  this  Freindship  that 
has  been  made  so  that  it  may  not  be  broke  but  Con¬ 
tinue  forever  A  Belt  to  the  Six  Nations 

Brothers  listen  to  me  while  I  speak  to  our  brothers 
the  English  Brothers  as  we  have  now  renewed  and 


no 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Confirmed  the  freindship  between  us  if  you  Suspect 
that  there  is  any  thing  in  my  heart  but  what  is  good 
and  Sincere,  I  beg  you  wou’d  tell  me  of  it;  as  I 
wou'd  wish  that  no  evil  thing  thats  done  by  my  People 
shou’d  be  kept  Secret,  and  that  every  one  may  know 
that  I  wou'd  not  desire  any  thing  bad  shou’d  be  Un¬ 
known  and  as  you  have  Informed  us  that  if  any  of 
your  People  shou’d  do  us  any  Injury  you  wou'd  Pun¬ 
ish  them  I  also  now  for  my  part  promise  that  if 
any  of  my  foolish  Young  Men  shou’d  do  any  harm 
to  your  People  that  we  will  punish  them  as  they  de¬ 
serve  without  delay  as  I  wou’d  wish  to  Comply  with 
the  dictates  of  the  Christian  Relegion  and  Commands 
of  our  Saviour  whose  hands  were  Nailed  to  the  Cross 
and  sides  Peirced  for  our  Sins  as  far  as  I  am  Cap¬ 
able  in  my  Present  Dark  State  A  Belt 

Dr  Walker  then  Spoke  Brothers  we  heartily 
thank  you  for  your  kind  Advice  and  you  may  depend 
all  we  have  said  to  you  Proceeds  from  our  Hearts  and 
that  we  shall  Punctually  Comply  with  every  part  of 
it  you  Mention  that  there  Appears  to  be  some  differ¬ 
ence  Amongst  us  we  know  of  none  we  are  all 
Heartily  engaged  in  the  same  great  and  good  Cause 
and  Expect  you  will  fully  discover  it  is  so  before 
this  Business  is  finished 

Kiashota  on  behalf  of  the  Wiandots  and  Tawaas 
then  Spoke  Brothers  the  Bigknife  and  Onas  we 
have  heard  and  all  the  Nations  here  present  have 
heard  what  you  have  said  to  us  and  we  think  it  good 
we  were  sent  here  by  our  Cheifs  to  listen  to  what  our 
Brothers  the  big  knife  and  Onas  had  to  say  and  we 
are  well  Pleased  with  what  we  have  heard  we  shall 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


III 


return  after  the  Treaty  and  inform  our  Cheifs  of  the 
good  Speeches  you  have  made  to  us 

The  Cornstalk  then  spoke  as  follows  All  my  Elder 
Brothers  the  English  the  reason  of  my  addressing 
you  in  this  Manner  is  because  you  have  Informed  us 
that  all  the  White  People  in  this  Island  are  now  be¬ 
come  as  one  Man  as  it  is  evening  now  and  you  have 
Desired  us  to  Consider  well  of  what  we  have  to  say 
in  reply  to  you  we  will  do  so  and  return  you  an  Ans¬ 
wer  tomorrow 


The  Commissioners  agreeable  to  the  request  of  the 
Shawanese  dispatched  the  following  Letters  by  Ex¬ 
press  Directed  to  all  the  Inhabitants  on  the  Ohio  and 
its  Eastern  Branches  and  to  the  Officer  Commanding 
at  the  Mouth  of  the  Great  Kanhawa 

Freinds  and  Countrymen — The  Shawanese  have 
Informed  us  in  Council  that  some  of  their  foolish 
Young  People  had  burnt  some  Houses  up  the  Kan¬ 
hawa  and  Committed  other  Irregularities  without  the 
Knowledge  of  the  Cheif  of  their  Nation  Those  of 
that  Nation  now  here  have  sent  off  two  of  their 
People  to  their  Towns  to  endeavour  to  restrain  them 
from  Crossing  the  Ohio  and  with  Particular  Orders 
not  to  give  any  disturbance  or  be  guilty  of  the  like 
Behaviour  in  future,  they  have  likewise  Informed  us 
that  there  are  a  party  of  Different  Nations  gone  to 
Observe  the  Settlement  on  Kentucke  we  therefore 
have  thought  it  proper  to  Inform  you  of  this  that 
you  may  be  on  your  gaurd  and  at  the  same  time  Ac¬ 
quaint  the  Inhabitants  on  the  Kentucke  by  the  first 


112 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Opportunity  we  wou’d  have  you  Avoid  giving  the 
Indians  Offence  and  forbear  hunting  on  the  Other 
side  of  the  River  Ohio  at  the  same  time  you  are  to 
gaurd  against  Mischeif  from  them  and  not  tamely 
Submit  to  any  Insult  wantonly  offered  by  them  We 
have  reason  to  beleive  that  on  the  return  of  their 
Cheifs  from  this  place  every  thing  will  be  Amicably 
settled  in  the  Nation  as  they  Intend  to  return  from 
Pittsburg  by  Water  we  Charge  you  not  to  give  them 
Offence  as  we  are  Certain  that  the  Shawanese  here 
are  well  disposed  and  will  Preserve  the  Peace  with 
the  white  People  if  Possible 

we  are  your  freinds  and  Countrymen 
(Signed)  Tho’  Walker  James  Wood 

A  Lewis  A  Stephen 
P  S.  all  officers  and  Soldiers  in  Actual  Service  on 
the  Ohio  are  desired  to  take  Notice  that  they  are  by 
a  resolve  of  the  Convention  to  receive  their  Instruc¬ 
tions  from  time  to  time  of  Captain  John  Nevill  Com¬ 
mandant  now  at  this  place 

Captain  Nevills  Instructions  to  the  Officer  Command¬ 
ing  at  Kanhawa 

Sir — as  I  make  no  doubt  you  have  seen  the  resolves 
of  Convention  before  this  time  wherein  I  am  ap¬ 
pointed  to  the  Command  of  the  Troops  on  the  Ohio 
I  hereby  request  you  to  keep  your  Men  in  good  Order 
and  well  disciplined  you  are  to  Support  and  Protect 
the  Neighbouring  Settlements  (if  any)  keep  some  of 
your  Men  Constantly  Scouting  to  Prevent  surprize 
shou’d  the  Indians  break  out  or  Attempt  to  Annoy  you 
on  the  Settlements  It  is  Expected  the  Indians  will 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


113 

keep  their  own  side  of  the  river  unless  it  be  to  your 
Fort  on  Business  and  you  are  not  to  Suffer  your  Men 
to  Hunt  on  their  side  but  that  ought  not  to  prevent 
your  Reconnoit[r]ing  and  geting  well  Acquainted 
with  the  Country  you  will  use  the  Indians  well  give 
them  no  Offence  and  do  not  tamely  Submit  to  any 
Insult  designedly  Offered  to  you  by  them  let  me 
know  what  prospect  you  have  of  geting  flour  to  serve 
your  Company  as  I  am  Apprehensive  it  may  be  got 
much  cheaper  from  this  Quarter  than  from  your 
Count  [r]y  it  will  be  Necessary  that  you  let  me  know 
what  Quantity  you  have  Engaged  and  at  what  rate 
I  am  Persuaded  Beef  Can  be  got  upon  Better  Terms 
from  Green  Brier  than  here  should  any  thing  extra¬ 
ordinary  happen  in  your  Quarter  you  will  be  Kind 
Enough  to  loose  no  time  in  making  me  Acquainted 
with  the  Particulars  I  flatter  myself  I  shall  have 
the  Pleasure  of  being  better  Acquainted  with  you  for 
the  time  to  come  I  wish  you  an  agreeable  Winter 
and  am  with  respect  yrs 

John  Nevill 


At  a  Conferrence  Continued  and  held  with  the  Dif¬ 
ferent  Tribes  of  Indians  13th  October  1775  Present 
as  before 

The  Cornstalk  came  forward  and  Desired  his 
Brothers  the  English  his  Elder  Brothers  the  Six  Na¬ 
tions  and  Wiandots  his  Grandfathers  the  Delawares 
and  all  that  were  present  to  Listen  to  him  Brothers 
the  Bigknifc '  agreeable  to  the  Invitation  which  you 

gave  all  the  Indians  here  present  you  see  Among  the 
8 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


1 14 

rest  your  younger  Brothers  the  Shawanese  who  as 
soon  as  they  received  your  Message  came  to  this 
Council  fire  which  you  have  Kindled  you  told  us 
that  you  had  removed  all  evil  as  well  from  our  hearts 
as  your  own  so  that  we  would  be  the  Better  Enabled 
to  renew  and  Brighten  the  Chain  of  Freindship  I 
was  Exceedingly  rejoiced  and  as  I  thought  the  Great 
and  Good  Spirit  had  directed  you  in  your  good 
Speeches  I  Immediately  Joined  heartily  with  you  in 
it  you  likewise  Informed  us  that  you  had  gathered 
together  all  the  Bones  of  our  freinds  who  fell  in  the 
late  Unhappy  disputes  between  us  that  you  had  Buried 
them  and  Planted  the  Tree  of  Peace  over  them  so 
that  they  might  never  be  seen  again  to  Create  any 
Sorrow  or  Uneasiness  I  was  very  Much  rejoiced  to 
hear  this  as  I  thought  the  Great  Spirit  had  directed 
you  and  that  you  had  become  wise  and  took  pity  on 
your  young  Brothers  the  Shawanese  and  all  your  other 
Brothers  now  present  We  and  also  our  old  Brothers 
the  six  Nations  Wiandots  Tawaas  and  our  Grand¬ 
fathers  the  Delawares  are  very  glad  to  hear  the  good 
things  you  have  said  and  Immediately  laid  hold  on 
every  thing  that  was  good  Elder  Brothers  the  six 
Nations  and  Wiandots  our  Young  Brothers  the  Ta¬ 
waas  and  Grandfathers  the  Delawares  you  have 
heard  what  our  Elder  Brothers  have  said  to  us  all 
and  were  well  Pleased  with  it  you  also  heard  how 
they  addressed  themselves  to  their  Younger  Brothers 
the  Shawanese  separately  because  they  think  there  is 
some  thing  yet  between  us  and  them  that  is  unsetled 
Brothers  the  Bigknife  yesterday  you  desired  us  to 
deliver  up  all  your  flesh  and  Blood  your  Negroes  your 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


115 

horses  and  every  thing  also  that  belonged  to  you  and 
that  the  Hostages  that  where  [were]  with  you  last 
Winter  must  'remain  with  you  or  others  in  their  stead 
untill  We  Performed  every  thing  you  Asked  of  us 
this  is  a  hard  task  you  have  set  us  and  may  create 
some  Uneasiness  among  us 

Brothers  the  Bigknife  I  now  Inform  you  that  we 
Cannot  Comply  with  your  request  in  sending  our  Hos¬ 
tages  back  with  you  they  have  been  with  you  since 
the  last  fall  and  some  others  of  my  young  Men  I  sent 
to  Visit  their  Bretheren  and  conduct  them  to  this 
place  the  reason  of  my  telling  you  that  We  Cannot 
comply  with  your  request  is  that  we  have  at  three 
different  times  delivered  up  to  you  your  flesh  and 
blood  and  as  you  say  there  are  still  some  remaining 
among  us  I  begg  that  you  wou’d  send  Twenty  of 
your  People  with  us  we  will  conduct  them  safe  to 
our  Towns  and  if  they  find  any  of  your  flesh  and 
Blood  let  them  bring  them  away  they  will  then  have 
an  Opportunity  of  seeing  your  horses  or  any  thing 
else  that  belongs  to  you  if  they  find  any  they  may 
take  them  I  have  already  inform'd  you  that  I  was  all 
last  Winter  Collecting  and  delivering  up  your  Horses 
as  you  seem  to  think  that  we  are  the  only  People 
who  have  stolen  your  horses  I  now  inform  you  that 
there  are  above  Twenty  of  your  Horses  Among  the 
Tawittawas  my  Grandfathers  the  Delawares  some  of 
your  foolish  Young  Men  who  joined  our  foolish  men 
last  summer  particularly  the  Pheasant  carried  of [f ] 
Eight  of  our  Brothers  Horses  you  know  best  whether 
they  have  ever  been  returned  there  is  a  Woman  of 
my  Nation  Anipassicowa  who  has  some  of  your  Ne- 


n6 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


groes  as  she  belongs  to  my  Tribe  I  will  speak  to 
her  and  doubt  not  she  will  listen  to  me  but  as  her 
Children  are  Sprung  from  my  Grandfathers  the  Dela¬ 
wares  there  may  perhaps  some  difficulty  arise  from 
that  It  is  true  there  are  two  Negro  Children  which 
were  begotten  by  my  People  and  we  are  not  the  only 
People  who  have  intermixed  with  Negroes  we  are 
not  Willing  to  give  up  the  Children  there  is  another 
old  Negro  Woman  which  you  may  Get  if  you  will 
bring  her  home  upon  your  backs  for  she  is  not  able 
to  walk  As  we  have  clear’d  the  road  between  us  We 
desire  you  as  before  to  send  Twenty  of  your  young 
Men  with  us  to  the  Mouth  of  Hockocking  and  a  few 
of  them  may  go  with  us  to  the  Town  and  they  will 
then  have  an  Opportunity  of  seeing  and  hearing  what 
We  say  to  your  Relations 


At  a  Conference  Continued  and  held  with  the  In¬ 
dians  at  Pittsburg  the  14th  of  October  1775  Present 
the  same  as  Yesterday  The  following  Speech  was 
delivered  to  the  diferent  Nations  of  Indians  Present 
by  Doctor  Walker 

Brothers  the  Six  Nations  Wyandots  Delawares 
Shawanese  and  Ottawas  We  have  in  a  former  Speech 
told  you  that  we  were  sent  by  our  great  Council  in 
Virginia  to  deliver  to  you  your  Hostages  and  to  re¬ 
ceive  of  you  Our  flesh  and  Blood  and  all  our  Negroes 
and  Horses  that  yet  remain  amongst  you  agreeable  to 
your  Stipulations  with  Lord  Dunmore  We  are  sorry 
you  are  come  Unprepared  to  fulfill  your  part  of  that 
Solemn  Contract  and  that  our  Brothers  the  Sha- 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


ii  7 


wanese  seems  to  be  averse  to  give  us  the  reasonable 
Security  we  required  for  the  delivery  of  our  property 
yet  in  their  hands  this  seems  to  be  the  only  Obstruc¬ 
tion  in  our  Way  to  compleat  the  very  Great  and  de¬ 
sirable  work  now  on  hand  we  are  not  come  un¬ 
prepared  to  give  Our  brothers  the  Strongest  proofs 
of  the  great  desire  we  have  of  living  in  Amity  with 
them  and  We  hope  you  will  not  stand  out  so  far  as 
to  deprive  us  of  the  happiness  We  promis’d  ourselves 
in  giving  you  this  Testimony  of  our  Generosity  and 
freindship  for  We  can  by  no  Means  give  the  pres¬ 
ent  put  into  our  hands  for  you  but  to  such  as  fulfill 
their  Engagements  or  at  least  comply  with  them  as 
far  as  may  be  in  their  Power  we  are  far  from  desir¬ 
ing  impossibilities  of  you  and  we  hope  that  you  will 
yet  exert  yourselves  and  gather  together  all  of  our 
peoples  property  you  can  find  and  deliver  them  up 
rather  than  say  “We  permit  you  to  search  for  them” 
how  should  we  know  where  to  find  them  you  took 
them  from  us  and  from  your  hands  we  Expect  to 
receive  them 

Brothers  the  Shawanese  you  told  us  on  Wednes¬ 
day  the  12th  of  this  Instant  that  three  of  your  foolish 
young  men  had  been  at  the  Kanhawa  and  burned 
some  old  Useless  Houses  but  that  the  Fort  was  not 
hurt  we  now  have  proof  that  part  of  the  Fort  is 
bum’d  and  all  the  Houses  in  it  destroyed  Except  the 
Loggs  of  the  Store  and  that  five  Indians  were  seen 
going  from  the  fort  to  a  house  near  it  who  on  seeing 
our  People  run  of[f]  their  blankets  were  found  about 
a  Quarter  of  a  Mile  from  the  place  where  the  Indians 


Ii8  REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

were  seen  from  that  Circumstance  it  Appears  they 
intended  Mischeif 

Brothers  we  have  before  told  you  all  that  we  had 
no  intention  of  incroaching  on  your  Lands  which  are 
the  real  Sentiments  of  our  hearts  but  if  you  will  Con¬ 
tinue  to  do  us  Mischeif  you  must  not  Expect  to  be 
treated  with  such  Lenity  as  you  were  in  the  Year 
1764  by  Colo  Boquet  and  by  Lord  Dunmore  last  fall 
but  on  the  Contrary  if  you  Oblige  us  to  march  an 
Army  into  any  of  your  Countrys  to  do1  ourselves  Jus¬ 
tice  the  fault  will  be  your  Own  and  you  may  Judge 
the  Consequence  and  you  may  rely  upon  it  that  the 
Interposition  of  any  other  Nation  will  be  ineffectual 
to  restrain  us  from  taking  Ample  Satisfaction  for  any 
Injury  that  you  may  do  us 

Brothers  of  the  different  Nations  here  present  we 
have  now  delivered  you  the  'real  Sentiments  of  our 
hearts  and  recommend  it  to  you  to  Consider  it  with 
Attention  we  have  been  long  here  and  have  never 
Observed  you  Consult  Mutually  together  we  now  hope 
that  you  will  and  that  you  determine  within  your¬ 
selves  to>  think  of  nothing  else  till  you  (return  us  an 
Answer  which  we  shall  be  ready  to  receive  and  hope 
it  will  be  soon  A  String  to  Each  Nation 

Kayashuta  then  Spoke  as  follows  Brothers  the 
Bignknife  &  Onas  I  and  all  present  have  heard  what 
you  have  said  there  is  one  thing  you  have  demanded 
of  our  Younger  Brothers  the  Shawanese  which  at 
this  time  is  a  little  difficult  for  them  to  perform  that 
is  that  they  should  deliver  up  all  your  flesh  and  blood 
and  Negroes  and  everything  else  that  they  have  taken 
from  you  According  to  their  Promise  made  last  fall 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS  119 

however  as  I  represent  the  Six  Nations  and  am  the 
oldest  and  have  greater  Authority  than  any  here  I  will 
endeavour  to  have  it  done  and  for  that  purpose  will 
send  two  of  my  Men  and  my  Nephews  the  Delawares 
will  send  two  to  their  Towns  to  see  that  it  is  done 
the  Wiandotts  and  Ottawas  will  likewise  Assist  their 
Brothers  the  Shawanese  in  Complying  with  your  re¬ 
quest,  as  we  all  think  you  demand  nothing  more  of 
them  than  what  you’ve  a  right  to  ask  of  them  What 
I  have  said  now  are  the  real  Sentiments  of  my  heajrt 
and  I  mean  to  perform  what  I  have  now  promised  to 
Morrow  Morning  we  will  all  Consult  together  and 
some  time  in  the  day  will  give  you  a  final  Answer 
Doctor  Walker  then  Replyed  Brothers  the  Six 
Nations  you  have  spoke  like  honest  Men  and  we  have 
not  the  least  doubt  but  you  will  perform  what  you 
have  promised 


At  a  Conference  Continued  and  held  with  the  In¬ 
dians  at  Pittsburg  October  16th  1775  Present  the 
same  as  before 

Kayashuda  on  behalf  of  all  the  Nations  Present 
spoke  as  follows  Brothers  the  Bigknife  and  Onas 
two  days  ago  We  heard  the  demand  you  made  of  the 
Shawanese  requiring  them  to  deliver  up  all  your  flesh 
and  Blood  your  Negroes,  Horses  and  all  that  they  had 
belonging  to  you  According  to  their  promise  made  last 
fall  to  Lord  Dunmore  We  that  are  here  present  will 
aid  and  assist  our  Young  Brothers  to  fulfill  their  en¬ 
gagements  with  you  therefore  I  shall  send  off  two  of 
my  Men  with  two  of  the  Delawares  and  Shawanese 


120 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


to  morrow  to  collect  what  white  Prisoners  are  Among 
us  as  well  as  the  Negroes  and  Horses  that  are  yet 
among  us  belonging  to  you  and  will  deliver  them  to 
you  if  there  should  be  any  defeciency  we  will  hope 
you  will  pity  us  as  we  shall  do  every  thing  in  our 
Power  to  Comply  with  our  promise  Brothers  you 
require  of  the  Shawanese  to  leave  Hostages  with  you 
untill  they  comply  with  their  Engagements  made  last 
fall  We  think  you  are  rather  too  strict  with  them, 
we  hope  you  will  not  insist  upon  it  but  be  satisfied 
with  the  Promises  we  have  all  made  you  that  the 
Shawanese  shall  comply  with  your  demands  as  far 
as  lies  in  their  Power  and  We  desire  that  your 
Brothers  the  Big  knife  and  Onas  will  send  two  of 
your  Men  (who  are  Acquainted  with  our  Language 
and  Customs)  with  those  whom  we  send  that  they 
may  be  Eye  Witness’s  of  our  endeavours  to  comply 
with  our  promise  Brothers  as  the  Winter  is  com¬ 
ing  on  we  hope  you  will  give  the  Young  Men  we 
send  to  the  Towns  some  Cloaths  to  keep  them  warm 
and  some  Amunition  to  supply  them  with  Provisions 
on  the  Road  Three  Strings 

White  Eyes  on  behalf  of  the  Delawares  then  ad¬ 
dressed  himself  to  the  Commissioners  and  Six  Na¬ 
tions  and  English  and  Said  Relations  I  am  Ouite 
tired  in  my  heart  in  Considering  how  we  shou’d  Corn- 
pleat  the  good  Work  we  are  about  you  have  heard 
what  our  Bretheren  the  English  have  said  to  us  for 
some  days  past  they  have  demanded  their  flesh  and 
Blood  Negroes  and  horses  and  as  yet  we  have  noth¬ 
ing  to  Establish  a  freindship  that  our  Childeren 
might  reap  the  Advantage  of  it 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


121 


My  Uncles  the  Six  Nations  I  told  you  before  and 
now  tell  you  that  my  heart  is  small  and  I  think  of 
nothing  but  what  is  good  and  as  you  sayed  your 
hearts  were  Strong  and  that  you  had  the  hearts  of 
other  Nations  in  your  hands  I  desired  you  to  Ad¬ 
vise  the  other  Nations  to  be  Strong  and  perform 
what  our  bretheren  the  English  demanded  of  them 
I  for  my  part  do  not  love  to  speak  lies  my  young 
Men  may  go  to  the  Towns  but  I  am  sure  they  will 
bring  nothing  back  with  them  as  I  have  not  heard 
my  Grand  Children  the  Shawanese  promise  their 
bretheren  to  deliver  up  what  belonged  to  them  and 
it  is  more  than  a  Year  since  the  Shawanese  have  re¬ 
fused  to  listen  to  us  It  is  not  hard  what  our  Broth¬ 
ers  demand  of  them  their  Flesh  and  Blood  their  Ne¬ 
groes  and  their  Horses  belong  to  them  they  Prom¬ 
ised  Lord  Dunmore  to  deliver  them  up  and  therefore 
ought  to  perform  it  A  String 

Nimwha  a  Chief  of  the  Shawanese  then  Spoke 
Brothers  the  Six  Nations  and  Wiandots  and  Grand¬ 
fathers  the  Delawares  listen  while  I  speak  to  my 
brothers  the  big  knife  Brothers  the  big  knife  last 
fall  when  Lord  Dunmore  came  near  to  our  Towns 
and  we  were  concluding  a  Peace  he  demanded  all 
your  Flesh  and  Blood  Negroes  Horses  and  every 
other  thing  belonging  to  you  which  were  with  us 
^when  you  first  made  your  Appearance  at  this  Council 
fire  we  heard  the  Good  things  you  had  to  say  to  us  and 
you  demanded  your  People  Negroes  and  Horses 
from  us.  I  now  promise  that  we  will  deliver  them 
up  to  you  as  we  are  desirous  that  we  and  our  Chil- 
deren  after  us  may  live  in  Freindship.  Uncles  the 


122 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Six  Nations  and  Grandfathers  the  Delawares  as  we 
are  all  going  for  the  People  and  property  of  our 
Brothers  the  English  that  are  Among  us  there  cannot 
be  the  Least  doubt  but  we  shall  Accomplish  it  now 
you  have  heard  what  we  promised  Brothers  the  Big 
knife  as  we  have  now  Complied  with  your  request 
in  Promising  to  deliver  up  your  People  and  property 
I  beg  that  you  and  our  Brothers  from  Philadelphia 
may  think  of  nothing  else  for  the  future  but  how  to 
Preserve  the  Friendship  between  us 

Doctor  Walker  then  replied  Brothers  of  the  dif¬ 
ferent  Nations  as  there  seems  to  be  a  great  differ¬ 
ence  in  Opinion  Among  you  at  Present  we  desire  you 
to  Consider  well  of  it  to  night  and  become  Unani¬ 
mous  in  what  was  proposed  by  the  Six  Nations  other¬ 
wise  we  shall  Insist  on  Hostages  being  delivered  to 
Us  for  the  Performance  of  your  Engagement  with 
Lord  Dunmore  at  Camp  Charlotte  last  fall 


At  a  Conference  Continued  and  held  with  the  In¬ 
dians  at  Pittsburg  October  17th  1775  Present  as  be¬ 
fore 

Kiashota  a  Six  Nation  Cheif  addressed  the  Com¬ 
missioners  as  follows  Brothers  the  Bigknife  likewise 
Brothers  Onas  listen  to  what  I  am  going  to  say  also 
my  Indian  Brothers  Listen  to  me  you  know  you  de¬ 
sired  the  Shawanese  to  deliver  up  your  flesh  and 
Blood  Negroes  and  Horses  you  know  the  Answer 
we  gave  you  yesterday  that  we  wou’d  assist  our 
Younger  Brothers  the  Shawanese  and  use  our  En¬ 
deavours  that  they  shou’d  Comply  with  your  Demand 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


123 


as  the  Six  Nations  are  the  head  of  all  the  other 
Tribes  here  present  I  tell  you  I  will  be  Strong  and 
use  my  best  Endeavours  that  the  Shawanese  shall 
perform  the  same  I  say  it  shall  be  done  and  my 
People  will  take  Care  that  the  Shawanese  shall  Com¬ 
ply  with  it  all  that  are  come  here  to  this  Council  fire 
came  to  Perform  this  Good  Work  and  we  hope  the 
same  will  be  Settled  to  our  Mutual  Satisfaction  as 
I  told  you  yesterday  we  wou‘d  send  two  Men  from 
Each  Nation  to  bring  up  your  flesh  and  Blood  Ne¬ 
groes  and  Horses  we  request  you  wou’d  Nominate 
two  of  your  young  Men  to  go  down  to  the  Towns 
to  see  this  Promise  performed  I  speak  for  all  the 
Nations  here  present  A  String 

Nimwha  in  behalf  of  the  Shawanese  then  Spoke 
Brothers  all  here  present  Listen  to  me.  you  have 
heard  what  Passed  at  this  Council  between  us  and 
our  Brothers  of  Virginia  Brothers  the  Bigknife  I 
now  Inform  you  what  was  demanded  of  us  shall 
be  delivered  up  I  now  desire  that  our  Hearts 
may  be  at  Ease  and  I  hope  that  the  Great  Spirit  will 
take  Pity  on  us  so  that  we  will  be  able  to  Conclude 
a  Peace  and  that  our  Childrens  Children  may  reap 
the  Blessings  and  advantage  of  it  as  you  were  sent 
by  the  Cheifs  of  .  your  People  and  we  by  our  Kings 
to  this  Council  to  renew  and  Strengthen  the  Freind- 
ship  subsisting  between  us ;  let  us  now  be  Strong 
and  Accomplish  this  good  work  so  that  every  Morn¬ 
ing  in  future  when',  we  rise  we  may  think  of  Nothing 
but  what  is  good 

Captain  White  Eyes  A  Cheif  of  the  Delawares  Ad¬ 
dressed  the  Indians  as  follows.  My  Indian  Brothers 


124 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


listen  to  me  I  am  very  much ,  rejoiced  to  hear  your 
Promises  that  you  will  deliver  up  the  Flesh  and 
Blood  Negroes  and  Horses  which  your  Brothers  the 
Bigknife  demanded  of  you  and  which  has  Occasioned 
this  Long  Journey  to  them  formerly  I  was  .Con¬ 
cerned  in  the  War  against  my  Bretheren  the  English 
but .  when  the  Great  Spirit  took  Pity  on  us  and  Peace 
was  ,  Restored  and  they  demanded  their  flesh  and 
Blood  of  us  we  then  sent  our  Wise  People  to  Lan¬ 
caster  where  they  Cleared  the  Council  House  and  de¬ 
livered  up  their  Flesh  and  Blood  and  every  thing  was 
Settled  Shortly  after  other  Mischeif  Happened  Ow¬ 
ing  to  the  Advice  of  Bad  People  but  when  we  met 
Colonel  Boquet  at  Coshocting  and  he  Demanded  his 
flesh  and  Blood  we  then  delivered  up  some  [to]  him 
and  sent  Killbuck  to  Sr  William  Johnston  to  finish 
the  Peace  there  are  four  of  your  flesh  and  Blood 
still  remaining  with  us  some  of  whom  run  away  and 
came  back  One  Negro  which  I  now  promise  to  de¬ 
liver  at  this  place  in  a  few  days  I  now  tell  you  my 
Uncles  the  Six  Nations  that  I  will  bring  them  myself 
and  not  give  any  .  Trouble  to  you  and  as  some  of  my 
foolish  Young  Men  who  Joined  in  the  Unhappy  dis¬ 
putes  last  Year  and  who  brought  of  [  f  ]  some  of  their 
Brothers  Horses  I  know  but  of  three  which  I  will 
likewise  deliver  up  and  the  Owners  shall  have  them 
to  ride  home  in  a  few  days  as  we  have  now  Finished 
and  promised  to  deliver  up  what  you  demanded  I 
now  Inform  for  the  future  if  any  Mischeif  shou’d 
happen  I  will  not  Join  in  it  but  will  Immediately 
withdraw  myself  and  think  of  nothing  but  what  is 
good  there  are  two  Negro  Women  and  two  Children 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS 


125 


in  omr  Towns  in  the  hands  of  the  Shawanese  which 
we  will  also  Use  our  best  Endeavours  to  have  de¬ 
livered  up  A  String 

Doctor  Walker  then  delivered  the  following  Speech 
to  the  Different  Tribes  of  Indians  Br  ether  en 
your  younger  Brothers  the  Shawanese  are  Greatly 
Obliged  to  the  other  Nations  for  their  kind ,  interpo¬ 
sition  in  their  favor  we  are  much  pleased  to, find  all 
the  Nations  present  so  heartily  disposed  to  Establish 
the  .Peace  of  this  Country  Brothers  we  have  heard 
your  respective  promises  and  Engagements  relying 
On  the  Most  faithfull  Performance  thereof  we  shall 
rest  satisfied  and .  desire  you  will  all  be  strong  in  this 
Good  Work  that  the  Peace  now  Established  betwixt 
us  may  Endure  forever  when  you  bring  our  flesh 
and  Blood  Negroes  and  Horses  to  this  place  (which 
we  hope,  will  be  soon)  we  desire  you  will  deliver  them 
to  Captain  Nevill  Commandant  at  this  Fort  we  have 
a  few  Presents  to  make  you  for. your  Winter  Cloath- 
ing  and  for  your  Women  and  Children  which  were 
sent  you  by  your  Brothers  of  Virginia  and  which  is 
over  and  above  their  Proportionable  part  of  the  pres¬ 
ent  you  will  hereafter  receive  from  the  .Com [missi] 
oners  Appointed  by  the  Thirteen  Un[ited]  Colonies 
the  Present  put. into  our  hfands]  will  be  delivered 
as  soon  as  the  Continental  Commissioners  finish  their 
Business  with  you  We  are  now  in  ,  perfect  Freind- 
ship  with  you  all  and  hope  to  remain  so  forever  A 
String  to  Each  Nation 

The  Different  Nations  of  Indians  were  then  In¬ 
formed  that  if  they  were  desirous  of  sending  any  of 

their  Children  to  be  Educated  among  the  White 


126 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


People.it  shou’d  be  done  without  any  Expence  to 
them  and  that  if  any  of  them  thought  proper  to 
Visit  our  Country  they  wou’d  be  .taken  by  the  Hand 
and  treated  with  Hospitality21 


At  a  Conference  held  .with  the  Different  Nations 
of  Indians  October  19th  1775  Present  the  same 
Commissioners  as  before  The  Commissioners  as 
well  as,  the  Cheifs  of  the  Different  Nations  proceeded 
to  the  Appointment  of  persons  as  well  on  the  part  of 
the  Colony  as  the .  said  Indians  to  Perform  that  part 
of  the  Treaty  relating  to  the  Delivery  of  the  Prison¬ 
ers  Negroes  and  [H]orses  which  remain  among  the 
Indians  Mr  John  Gibson  wit[h]  one  other  White 
Man  is  Appointed  for  the  Colony  of  Virginia 
Kightoi  and  Kenightie  for  the  Six  Nations  Tete- 
puska,  Winganum.and  Joseph  Pepy  for  the  Dela¬ 
wares  and  Allanawissica  and  Wewelatimiha  for  the 
Shawanese  It  is  likewise  Engaged  by  the  Indians 
that  Kiashota.a  Six  Nation  Cheif  and  Capn  Pipe  a 


21  The  following  letter,  dated  Williamsburgh,  Nov.  18,  1775, 
is  printed  in  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series,  iii,  p.  1542:  “Dr. 
Thomas  Walker,  one  of  the  gentlemen  appointed  by  the  Con¬ 
vention  to  treat  with  the  Indians,  is  returned  to  this  City  and 
informs  that  all  the  different  nations,  who  attended  the  treaty, 
are  peacefully  disposed,  notwithstanding  the  endeavours  of 
several  persons  from  Fort  Detroit  to  set  them  against  this 
Colony  in  particular.  Mr.  Walker  has  brought  with  him  a 
young  Indian  (son  of  the  famous  Bawbee)  to  be  educated  at 
college.”  This  young  chief  remained  in  Virginia  until  1779, 
but  upon  his  return  to  the  Indian  country  spread  among  the 
tribesmen  unfavorable  reports  of  the  Virginians.  See  Hecke- 
welder,  Narrative,  p.  206. — Ed. 


TREATY  WITH  WESTERN  INDIANS  127 

Delaware  Cheif  shall  go  with  them  to  the  Shawanese 
Towns  and  Assist  them  in  the  .Execution  of  their 
purpose 

October  21st  1775 

Thomas  Walker 
Andrew  Lewis 
James  Wood 
Adam  Stephen 


BRITISH  REPORT  OF  TREATY 

[Lieut.  Gov.  Henry  Hamilton  to  Gen.  Guy  Carleton. 

45J101  —  A.  L.,  draft  in  handwriting  of  Hamilton.] 

Detroit  Novr:  30th.  1775 

Decr :  4th.22 

Sir:  I  had  the  honor  of  writing  to  your  Excel¬ 
lency]  by  the  opportunity  of  Mr  Bolton  Master  of  the 
Gage  Schooner,  who  is  gone  down  to  Canada  to  en¬ 
deavor  to  engage  seamen  for  the  service  of  the 
Lakes  the  ensuing  season.23  Since  his  departure  a 
Delaware  savage,  named  Mahingan  John  arrived 
here  23d.  Novr:  from  Pittsbourg  where  he  had  been 
present  at  a  Council  of  the  Virginians  assembled 
there  upon  the  design  of  engaging  several  nations  to 
declare  in  their  favor  he  came  to  this  place  in  com- 

22  In  the  manuscript  the  date  Nov.  30th  has  been  crossed 
out,  and  DecL  4th  substituted,  as  here  indicated. — Ed. 

23  The  British  kept  a  considerable  naval  force  on  the  Great 
Lakes  during  the  Revolution.  See  papers  concerning  the 
equipment,  in  Wis.  Hist.  Colls.,  xi,  pp.  193-202.  The  “Gage” 
was  still  in  use  in  1777.  David  Bolton  later  commanded  the 
“Ottawa,”  and  appears  to  have  had  charge  of  all  the  shipping 
on  the  lakes.  See  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  ix,  p.  351. — Ed. 


128 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


pany  with  a  frenchman  ( (one  Drouillard)24  whom 
Capn:  Lernoult25  has  employed  &  who  was  within 
ten  miles  of  Pittsburg.  Drouillard’s  busyness  ,  was  to 
enquire  among  the  savages  what  was  going  forward, 
&  to  bring, the  earliest  accounts  to  this  place,  as  also 
to  accompany  any  savage  who  might  have  got  Belts 
to  distribute,  &  to ,  learn  the  result  as  well  as  to  con¬ 
tradict  false  reports  &ct.  Mahingan  John  had  got 
belts  from  the  Virginians,  which  he  was  to  deliver 
to  a  Huron  chief  called  Old  Calotte,  who  lives  about 

24  In  the  latter  years  of  the  French  regime,  the  father  of 
Pierre  Drouillard  emigrated  to  Detroit,  where  the  son  was 
born  (about  1754).  Pierre  early  became  familiar  with  Indian 
languages,  and  was  employed  in  trade  with  the  savages. 
While  among  the  Shawnee,  he  had  a  son,  George,  who  after¬ 
wards  accompanied  Lewis  and  Clark  on  their  expedition  to 
the  Pacific  (1804-06).  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution, 
Pierre  was  taken  into  the  Indian  department  as  interpreter  for 
the  Wyandot  nation,  receiving  sixteen  shillings  per  day  until 
1783.  In  1778,  he  saved  Simon  Kenton  from  the  stake,  by  the 
payment  of  $100  in  goods.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  sought 
Kenton’s  home  in  Kentucky,  where  the  latter  rewarded  him 
with  a  gift  of  land,  and  a  home  in  his  own  house.  In  1786 
Drouillard  visited  Congress,  and  was  taken  into  United  States 
service,  being  sent  to  negotiate  with  the  Northwestern  Indians. 
He  finally  settled  on  his  farm  between  Sandwich  and  Malden 
and  died  there  in  April,  1803.  He  had  married  (1776)  Angel- 
ine  Labadie,  by  whom  he  left  several  children.  Much  of  the 
above  information  was  secured  by  Draper  from  the  heirs  of 
Kenton  and  Drouillard;  see  Draper  MSS.,  17S  and  8BB. — Ed. 

25  Richard  Berringer  Lernoult  was  in  1756  commissioned 
lieutenant  of  the  8th  (or  King’s)  regiment,  and  received  his 
captaincy  in  1767.  Two  years  later  he  was  stationed  in 
America,  and  in  1773  sent  with  a  small  detachment  to  Detroit. 
In  1776  he  was  relieved,  but  returned  to  Detroit  Dec.  1,  1 777. 
There  he  was  left  first  in  command  on  the  departure  of  Gov¬ 
ernor  Hamilton  for  Vincennes  in  October,  1778.  After  the 
capture  of  Hamilton,  Lernoult  had  entire  charge  of  the  de¬ 
partment  of  the  West  until  relieved  by  De  Peyster  in  Novem¬ 
ber,  1779.  At  Quebec  he  was  promoted  to  a  majority  and 
served  as  adjutant-general  for  Haldimand,  1780-83. — Ed. 


lieut.-Gov.  Henry  Hamilton 

After  a  portrait  in  the  possession  of  Clarence  M.  Burton 

of  Detroit 


BRITISH  VERSION 


129 


10  leagues  from  this  place  who  is  much  in  the  Eng¬ 
lish  Interest,  and  who  has  declared  he  will  not  allow 
those  Belts  to  go  any  further,  but  that  they  should 
be  buried  with  him.  We  expect  him  here  early  in  the 
Spring  and  shall  endeavor  to  keep  him  in  the  same 
disposition.  We  have  had  accounts  of  your  Excel¬ 
lency's  success  against  the  Rebels  upon  which  I ,  beg 
leave  most  sincerely  to  congratulate  you20  As  Mahin- 
gan  John  is  to  be  at  a  Council  next  Spring  at  Pits- 
burgh,  he  has  been  made  acquainted  with  some  of  the 
particulars  which  are  sufficient  to  undeceive  the  Dela¬ 
wares  and  Shawanese,  which  latter  from  the  purport 
of  the  enclosed  papers  your  Excellency  will  .perceive 
are  not  likely  to  continue  upon  terms  with, the  Vir¬ 
ginians.  Indeed  any  Peace  between  those  people 
and  any  of  the  savage  nations  is  liable  to  frequent 
interruptions  from  more  causes  than  one.  The  Vir¬ 
ginians  are  haughty  Violent  and  bloody,  the  savages 
have  a  high  opinion  of  them  as  Warriors,  but  are 
jealous  of  their  encroachments,  and  very  suspicious 
of  their  faith  in  treaties,  the  Virginians  having  fur¬ 
nished  them  with  frequent  cause,  seizing  their  Chiefs 
&  detaining  them  as  hostages,  during  which  time  their 
treatment  has  not  been  as  mild  as  good  policy  should 
have  dictated.  In  the  inroads  of  the  Virginians  upon 
the  savages,  the  former  have  plundered,  burnt  and 
murdered  without  mercy.  Tis  to  be  supposed  from 
the  character  of  the  savages,  that  opportunity  only 

20  Referring  doubtless  to  the  defeat  and  capture  of  Ethan 
Allen,  who  rashly  made  an  attempt  upon  Montreal,  Sept.  24, 

1 775 —Ed. 


9 


130 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


is  wanting  to  retaliate,  and  that  there  can  be  but  lit¬ 
tle  cordiallity  between  them.  If  the  affairs  of  the 
Colonials  decline  next  year  as  I  think  we  may  reas¬ 
onably  expect,  from  all  I  can  learn  of  the  disposition 
of  the  savages,  the  frontier  of  Virginia  in  particular 
will  suffer  very  severely.  The  nation  of  the  Hurons 
is  greatly  respected  by  all  the  neighbouring  nations, 
and  it  is  probable  the  expence  of  presents  to  them 
next  Spring  will  be  pretty  considerable.  C[aptain] 
Lernoult  tells  me  your  Ex:  had  mentioned  to  him 
by  letter  that  he  should  have  by  this  fall  or  the  next 
spring  six  Months  provisions  in  addition  for  this 
post  and  that  of  Missilimalkinak,  which  considering 
the  proposed  addition  of  seamen,  and  the  Necessity 
of  providing  the  savages  will  be  vary  neces- 
sary.  Mr :  Hay  who  acts  as  Engineer  here,  and 
who  understands  the  Huron  language,27  judges  from 
what  the  savages  say  that  if  the  Virginians  and  Dela¬ 
wares  should  cross  the  Ohio  next  Spring  it  will  be 
as  early  as  April.  The  Virginians  have  several  Em¬ 
issaries  in  pay  and  have  given  away  in  presents  and 

27  Jehu  Hay  was  born  in  Chester,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1758 
enlisted  in  the  60th  (or  Royal)  American  regiment.  In  1762 
he  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy,  and  sent  to  Detroit  with  a 
detachment  of  troops.  There  he  served  during  Pontiac’s  con¬ 
spiracy,  and  in  1766  was  made  Indian  commissary.  In  1776 
he  became  deputy  Indian  agent,  and  major  of  the  Detroit 
militia.  Having  accompanied  Hamilton  to  Vincennes,  he  was 
taken  prisoner  (1779)  by  George  Rogers  Clark,  and  sent  to 
Virginia,  where  he  was  finally  exchanged  in  1781,  and  passed 
via  New  York  to  England.  In  June,  1782,  Hay  was  again  in 
Quebec,  where  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-governor  of  De¬ 
troit  to  succeed  De  Peyster.  He  did  not,  however,  reach  De¬ 
troit  until  the  summer  of  1784,  and  died  a  year  later  while  oc¬ 
cupying  his  office.  Hay  had  much  influence  with  the  Detroit 
Indians,  by  whom  he  was  known  as  “Touraighwaghti.” — Ed. 


BRITISH  VERSION 


131 

Provisions  to  the  amount  of  three  thousand  Pounds, 
I  have  desired  Mr:  Hay  to  give  me  a  copy  of  his 
letter  to  Captn:  Claus 2S  which  I  have  the  honor  to 
enclose  to  your  Ex :  as  it  may  save  the  time  of  Captn : 
Claus  communicating  to  you  what  it  contains.  A 
Canadian  one  Desnoyers29  carries  the  Express,  ac¬ 
companied  by  a  Chipawaa  Savage,30  they  are  to  call 
at  Niagara  and  pass  by  the  way  of  Oswegatchie81 

28  Col.  Daniel  Claus  was  born  in  Germany  in  1727.  Arriv¬ 
ing  in  Philadelphia  in  1749,  he  met  Conrad  Weiser,  a  well- 
known  Indian  interpreter,  and  accompanied  him  among  the 
Six  Nations.  Claus’s  proficiency  in  acquiring  Indian  lan¬ 
guages  attracted  the  notice  of  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania 
who  commissioned  him  to  learn  Iroquois,  during  which  time 
he  resided  with  Sir  William  Johnson  and  King  Hendrick,  the 
Mohawk.  In  the  French  and  Indian  War  Claus  was  com¬ 
missioned  lieutenant  of  the  60th  regiment,  and  deputy  Indian 
agent  under  Johnson.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  having  mar¬ 
ried  Johnson’s  daughter,  he  became  superintendent  for  the 
Canadian  Indians,  an  office  which  he  held  until  1776.  Having 
then  been  superseded,  he  visited  England,  returning  in  1777 
with  a  new  commission  as  deputy  Indian  agent.  In  that  ca¬ 
pacity  he  accompanied  St.  Leger’s  expedition  (1777)  and  was 
in  constant  service  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  At  its 
close,  while  in  the  mother  country  to  recover  his  estate  con¬ 
fiscated  by  the  Americans,  he  died  in  Cardiff,  Wales,  1787. — Ed. 

29  The  Desnoyers  were  a  prominent  Detroit  family,  one  mem¬ 
ber  of  which,  living  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  warned  the 
English  officers  of  the  intended  siege  by  Pontiac.  Pierre  Des¬ 
noyers  and  wife  are  noted  in  the  census  of  1779. — Ed. 

30  The  Chippewa  are  a  large  branch  of  the  Algonquian  fam¬ 
ily,  whose  first  representatives  were  met  by  the  French  at 
Sault  Ste.  Marie — hence  their  French  name,  Saulteurs.  Upon 
the  founding  of  Detroit,  one  branch  was  attracted  to  that  vi¬ 
cinity.  Their  chief  habitat  was,  however,  the  shores  of  Lake 
Superior  and  the  country  north,  where  large  bands  of  this  tribe 
are  still  extant. — Ed. 

81  Fort  Oswegatchie  was  on  the  site  of  the  mission  and  for¬ 
tified  post  of  Abbe  Picquet,  a  Sulpician  missionary,  who  began 
an  establishment  in  1749,  called  “La  Presentation.”  By  the 
time  of  the  French  and  Indian  War,  he  had  attracted  to  this 
place  a  force  of  nearly  a  thousand  Iroquois.  Being  surrendered 


132 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


to  Montreal,  they  have  directions  to  go  to  General 
Prescott,32  and  wait  for  your  Excellency’s  orders.  As 
soon  as  the  season  grows  something  milder  (for  we 
have  now  very  severe  frost  with  snow)  I  shall  re¬ 
view  the  Companies  of  Militia  and  make  your  Ex¬ 
cellency  a  report  of  the  state  in  which  I  shall  find 
them.  As  it  may  possibly  happen  that  Capta.ii  Bol¬ 
ton  (whom  I  have  already  mentioned)  has  been  de¬ 
tained  by  bad  weather,  or  some  unforeseen  accident, 

I  send  a  duplicate  of  Captn:  Grant’s33  return  of  Na¬ 
val  stores  wanting  for  the  Vessels,  that  if  possible 
they  may  come  by  the  first  Batteaux.  The  Traders 
at  this  Place  have  presented  me  a  petition  (respect¬ 
ing  the  carrying  place  at  Niagara)  to  be  laid  before 
your  Excellency,  which  I  send  by  the  Express.  I 
am  not  a  proper  judge  of  the  reasonable  [ness]  of 

to  the  English  in  1760,  they  rebuilt  the  fort  and  named  it  Os- 
wegatchie.  A  garrison  was  maintained  therein  until  after  Jay's 
Treaty  in  1794.  The  fort  was  on  the  site  of  the  present  town 
of  Ogdensburgh,  N.  Y. — Ed. 

32  Richard  Prescott  (1725-88)  became  major  of  the  33rd  in¬ 
fantry  in  1756.  In  1773  he  came  to  Canada,  and  with  the  ranl^^ 
of  brigadier-general  was  in  command  at  Montreal  in  1775.  V 
When  Montgomery  captured  the  city,  Prescott  attempted  to 
escape  down  the  river,  but  was  intercepted  and  made  prisoner. 
Exchanged  the  following  August  (1776),  he  was  sent  in  De¬ 
cember  to  command  in  Rhode  Island,  where  he  was  again 
made  prisoner  by  the  Americans.  Prescott  was  accused  of 
much  harshness  in  his  treatment  of  American  prisoners,  and 
was  greatly  disliked. — Ed. 

33  Capt.  Alexander  Grant  of  the  42nd  infantry  was  in  De¬ 
troit  as  early  as  1774.  He  commanded  a  vessel  on  the  Great 
Lakes  during  the  entire  Revolutionary  War,  and  later  became 
commodore  of  the  British  fleet,  as  well  as  serving  as  magis¬ 
trate  and  councillor  for  the  district.  In  1812  he  was  still  in 
command,  after  fifty  years  of  service.  He  died  at  his  home  at 
Grosse  Pointe  about  1815,  aged  above  eighty-five  years.  His 
naval  service  was  efficient. — Ed. 


BRITISH  VERSION 


133 


their  demands  and  objections,  but  by  all  accounts  the 
present  occupyer  has  behaved  with  uncommon  Dili¬ 
gence,  activity  and  spirit,  and  I  take  the  liberty  of 
representing  him  to  your  Excellency  as  a  very  proper 
person,  at  the  same  time,  that  I  by  no  means  insinu¬ 
ate  the  facts  alledged  by  the  traders  to  be  falsely 
stated.  M1’  Stedman  told  me  when  on  the  spot,  that 
having  been  used  to  transport  the  loading  of  Bat- 
teaux,  estimated  at  so  many  Barrels,  or  so  many 
Packs,  these  Barrels  &  packs  at  a  certain  weight,  he 
found  some  traders  had  added  to  the  size  of  the 
former  &  the  Weight  of  the  latter,  so  that  he  came 
to  a  resolution  of  having  all  goods  weighed  in  scales 
at  the  landing,  &  to  take  payment  accordingly  which 
would  prevent  imposition.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed 
however  that  the  parties  concerned  are  to  be  judges 
of  the  rates  or  to  fix  them  themselves.  I  told  them 
they  were  not  to  expect  at  such  a  time  as  this  that 
regulations  wore  to  be  alterd,  or  another  carrying 
place  thought  of  on  the  opposite  side  (which  is  the 
Idea  of  the  Merch8:  in  Canada  as  I  am  informd,) 
but  that  they  might  expect  Government  would  in  due 
time  attend  to  their  representation.  I  shall  not  at  pres¬ 
ent  take  up  your  Excellency's  time  with  a  detail  of 
matters  relating  to  the  civil  state  of  the  Settlement, 
when  it  is  signified  to  me  that  it  may  be  seasonably 
done,  I  shall  take  the  liberty  of  laying  before  your 
Excellency  such  things  as  call  more  immediately  for 
redress. 

I  am  informed  by  a  person  of  Character  here  (Mr: 
Hay  acting  Engineer,)  that  when  Colo1:  Bradstreet 


134 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


took  Possession  of  this  place  &  Missilimakinak34  he 
took  to  the  last  place  a  number  of  Canadians  with 
Arms  to  assist  in  taking  Possession  of  the  Post,  & 
to  cut  fuel  &  do  other  services  for  the  Garrison,  they 
were  promised  half  a  Dollar  p1’ :  day,  but  never  got 
payment,  tho  they  had  neglected  their  harvest  & 
returnd  half  naked,  such  a  precedent  must  be  of 
the  worst  Consequence  and  I  mention  the  fact  to 
your  Excellency  as  it  has  left  a  deep  impression  on 
those  who  were  sufferers  from  such  a  dishonorable 
breach  of  word  and  Credit.  I  beg  leave  to  remind 
your  Ex:  of  a  young  man  named  Ferguson  or  Far- 
quharson,  apprentice  to  Mr:  Dobie  Merch1  at  Mon¬ 
treal,  who  was  extremely  active  as  a  Volunteer  on  the 
Sorel,  and  who  gave  the  strongest  proofs  of  his  zeal 
for  Government,  I  had  promised  him  to  speak  in 
his  favor  to  your  Excellency,  but  my  sudden  depart¬ 
ure  from  Montreal  would  not  allow  me  to  be  as  good 
as  my  word,  I  hope  to  be  excused  for  taking  that 
liberty  now,  as  I  really  look  upon  him  to  be  a  young 
man  who  would  not  be  a  disgrace  to  the  service, 

34  Col.  John  Bradstreet,  although  English  born,  spent  most 
of  his  mature  life  in  America.  Distinguishing  himself  for  gal¬ 
lantry  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg  (1745),  he  received  promo¬ 
tion  in  the  army;  and  in  the  French  and  Indian  War  was  for 
some  time  in  command  at  Oswego.  His  most  noted  exploit 
was  the  capture  of  Fort  Frontenac  (1758).  After  Pontiac  and 
his  braves  had  besieged  Detroit  for  nearly  fifteen  months, 
Bradstreet  arrived  in  August,  1764,  with  an  army  of  twelve 
hundred  overawing  the  recalcitrant  chiefs.  Having  made  a 
treaty  with  the  Indians,  Colonel  Bradstreet  sent  a  detachment 
of  three  hundred  troops  under  Capt.  John  Howard  to  reoccupy 
Mackinac,  or  Fort  Missilimackimac,  as  it  was  then  called. 
With  them  went  two  companies  of  Canadian  militia,  composed 
of  fifty  men  each.  Bradstreet  was  made  major-general  in 
1772,  but  died  two  years  later  at  Detroit. — Ed. 


BRITISH  VERSION 


135 


&  whose  talent  seems  to  lye  that  way,  he  speaks 
french  very  well  and  is  not  forward. 

The  following  Paragraph  is  copied  from  the  torn 
pieces  of  a  paper  which  coverd  the  Talk  of  the  Vir¬ 
ginians  to  the  savages  at  Fort  Pitt,  and  which  I  sup¬ 
pose  beeing  deem’d  by  some  of  the  council  as  too 
acrimonious  has  been  corrected  and  crossed  out  as 
I  have  done  exactly35 

I  have  sent  this  copy  to  your  Excellency  because 
tho  not  deliverd  at  the  Council  it  shows  how  hardly 
they  can  restrain  their  inveteracy  against  the  Sav¬ 
ages,  and  how  little  cordiallity  there  can  be  in  their 
Professions  on  either  side,  it  does  not  appear  that 
the  savages  have  returned  Belts  or  Strings  for  those 
presented  them  by  the  Commissioners,  nor  have  we 
any  account  of  the  answer  given  by  them  to  the  Talk 
of  the  Commissioners,  a  copy  of  the  minutes  is  sent 
to  Niagara,  &  will  be  forwarded  in  the  Spring  to 
Missilimakinak 

Henry  Hamilton86 

Copy  of  a  letter  to  Gen1.  Carleton  Decr:  5th.  1775 
wrote  the  same  day  to  Gen1.  Gage  an  accC  of  the  meeting  at 
Fort  Pitt  on  the  Octr:  kept  no  Copy 
same  date  to  Gen1.  Gage  Boston 37  Gen1.  Prescott,  Mon¬ 
treal  Lord  Rawdon  Boston  38  Captn :  Gambel  Montreal 30 
Colo1.  Caldwell  Niagara 


85  Here  follows  a  copy  of  Dr.  Walker’s  speech  of  Oct.  14,  as 
delivered  to  the  tribesmen,  without  any  omissions ;  see  ante , 
pp.  116^118,  Hamilton  was  incorrect  in  his  surmise  that  this 
was  too  acrimonious  to  be  delivered. — Ed. 

86  Henry  Hamilton,  of  Irish  descent,  entered  the  British 
army  in  1754;  two  years  later  he  received  his  lieutenancy,  and 
served  with  the  15th  infantry,  at  first  in  France  and  then  with 
Amherst  at  Louisburg  (1758),  where  he  was  slightly  wounded. 
His  regiment  had  part  in  the  battles  around  Quebec,  and  later 


136 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


CONNOLLY’S  PLOT 

[The  first  document  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  dated  George¬ 
town,  Md.,  Nov.  26,  1775,  published  in  Pennsylvania  Packet, 
1775,  transcribed  in  Draper  MSS.,  2JJ,  book  E,  30-33 ;  the 
second  is  from  the  same  source,  Dec.  4,  1775,  2JJ34,  35. 1 

Agreeable  to  what  I  wrote  you  by - ,  I  set 

out  on  Tuesday  morning  last  for  Frederick-Town, 

and  when  within  eight  or  nine  miles  of  that  place, 

had  the  pleasure  to  hear  that  Major  Connolly  with 

three  companions  were  taken  about  five  miles  above 

Hagar’s  Town,  on  their  way  to  Fort  Pitt;  Connolly 

— 

served  in  the  West  Indies.  In  April,  1775,  he  was  appointed 
lieutenant-governor  of  Detroit,  where  he  arrived  Nov.  9  of 
the  same  year.  He  was  accused  of  cruelty  in  instigating  the 
Indians  to  war,  and  when  captured  by  George  Rogers  Clark 
at  Vincennes  (1779)  was  sent  to  Virginia  in  irons.  His  ex¬ 
change  was  not  arranged  until  1780,  when  he  returned  to  Eng¬ 
land  via  New  York.  In  1782  he  was  appointed  to  succeed 
Haldimand  as  governor  of  Canada,  an  office  which  he  held 
until  1785.  In  1790  he  was  made  governor  of  Bermudas,  and 
in  1794  of  Dominica.  During  the  latter  incumbency  he  died 
(1796)  on  the  island  of  Dominica. — Ed. 

37  Gen.  Thomas  Gage  (1721-87)  entered  the  army  in  1741  and 
first  served  in  Flanders.  Coming  to  America  with  Braddock 
(1754),  he  continued  here  throughout  the  French  and  Indian 
War,  and  at  its  close  (1763)  was  made  commander-in-chief  of 
British  forces  in  America,  with  headquarters  in  New  York. 
Having  returned  to  England  in  1 772,  he  was  sent  two  years 
later  to  subdue  the  rebellious  province  of  Massachusetts.  Not 
succeeding  in  this  he  resigned  (1775)  and  returned  to  Eng¬ 
land. — Ed. 

88  Francis  Lord  Rawdon  (1754-1826),  later  Marquis  of  Hast¬ 
ings,  was  a  brilliant  young  nobleman  who  came  over  with  Gage 
and  served  against  the  colonists  until  1781.  His  most  noted 
command  was  in  South  Carolina.  He  was  active  in  English 
politics,  and  in  1812  became  governor-general  of  India,  in 
which  post  he  remained  ten  years. — Ed. 

39  Thomas  Gambel  was  a  lieutenant  when  he  came  to  Amer¬ 
ica  in  1762.  He  had  received  his  captaincy  in  August  of  the 
year  in  which  Hamilton  writes.  See  his  letters  from  Quebec 
in  Amer.  Archives ,  4th  series,  iv,  p.  962. — Ed. 


CONNOLLY’S  PLOT 


137 


has  been  this  summer  at  Boston,  where  he  presented 
a  plan  of  operations  for  the  next  spring,  to  General 
Gage,  which  met  the  general's  approbation,  and  he 
was  now  on  his  way  to  put  it  in  execution.40  He  is 
made  Lieutenant  Colonel  Commandant,  was  to  pro¬ 
ceed  to  Fort  Detroit,  where  Captain  Lord,  who  is 
now  at  the  Illinois  with  two  companies  of  the  Royal 
Irish,41  was  to  meet  him  with  the  field  pieces  and 

40  Upon  reaching  Lord  Dunmore,  off  Yorktown  in  August, 
Connolly  made  such  an  impression  upon  the  late  governor’s 
mind  by  his  plan  to  advance  against  the  colonists  from  the 
Western  frontier,  that  the  latter  sent  him  by  sea  to  Boston. 
There  Gage  approved  his  plan,  and  had  he  gone  as  was  first 
proposed  by  way  of  Quebec  and  the  Great  Lakes  to  Detroit, 
it  might  have  been  successfully  carried  out — to  the  great  in¬ 
jury  of  the  American  cause.  The  capture  of  Montreal  and  Ar¬ 
nold’s  expedition  against  Quebec,  blocked  the  Canadian  enter¬ 
prise,  whereupon  Connolly  made  his  way  back  to  Lord  Dun- 
more,  and  attempted  to  reach  the  West  through  Virginia  and 
Maryland.  He  was,  however,  too  well-known  and  too  strongly 
suspected  to  escape  the  vigilance  of  the  patriots,  who  were 
warned  by  his  letters  to  John  Gibson  and  White  Eyes  (see 
ante ,  pp.  72-74),  and  arrested  him  as  here  stated  on  the  night 
of  Nov.  19. — Ed. 

41  Hugh  Lord  was  commissioned  captain  in  England,  in 
1762.  In  1770  he  was  assigned  to  the  18th  Royal  Irish  regi¬ 
ment  then  in  America,  and  probably  went  to  Illinois  with 
Lieut.-Col.  John  Wilkins,  whom  he  superseded  in  command 
of  that  country  in  1771.  Wilkins  was  very  unpopular  with  the 
habitants.  Lord,  on  the  contrary,  made  himself  much  liked  by 
them.  During  his  administration  (1772),  Fort  Chartres  was 
abandoned,  because  of  being  undermined  by  floods,  and  the 
garrison  withdrawn  to  Kaskaskia,  christening  their  stronghold 
Fort  Gage.  Lord  was  in  Detroit  until  1777.  The  following 
year  he  was  promoted  to  a  majority  and  assigned  to  the  75th, 
which  took  no  part  in  the  American  war.  In  1783  he  was  re¬ 
tired  on  half  pay,  but  in  the  Napoleonic  wars  was  major  of  the 
7th  Royal  Irish,  and  commandant  for  the  island  of  Jersey.  He 
died  June  2,  1829.  His  withdrawal  from  the  Illinois  early  in 
1 776  doubtless  was  caused  by  the  failure  of  Connolly’s  plan. 
See  the  latter’s  letters  in  Amcr.  Archives ,  4th  series,  iv,  pp.  617, 
618. — Ed. 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


138 

stores  that  are  there.  Connolly  was  to  raise  a  regi¬ 
ment,  as  many  Indians  and  partisans  as  he  could;  to 
enable  him  to  do  this,  he  had  power  to  engage  to 
every  person  that  entered  into  the  service  three  hun¬ 
dred  acres  of  land  when  the  troubles  are  over,  and 
whatever  other  pecuniary  rewards  he  might  think 
proper,  was  to  appoint  and  commission  all  the  officers 
under  him,  which  commissions  were  to  be  confirmed 
by  Dunmore. 

With  this  force  he  was  to  destroy  Fort  Pitt  and 
Fort  Fincastle,42  if  the  Americans  should  make  any  re¬ 
sistance,  and  meet  Dunmore  by  the  20th  of  April 
next  at  Alexandria,  where  he,  Dunmore  was  to  land 
an  army  under  the  cannon  of  the  ships  of  war.  Con¬ 
nolly's  companions  were  one  Cameron,43  who  is  now 
a  lieutenant,  with  promise  of  promotion,  one  Dr. 
Smith  who  says  he  was  to  be  surgeon  of  Connolly’s 
regiment  :44  the  other  was  Connolly’s  servant. 

'  "V 

42  For  an  account  of  Fort  Fincastle  see  Dunmore’ s  War , 
p.  86,  note  35. — Ed. 

43  Allen  Cameron  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  probably  re¬ 
lated  to  the  deputy  Indian  agent,  John  Stuart;  see  Ibid.,  p.  40, 
note  72.  Connolly  says  (op.  cit.,  in  note  40,  ante )  that  Cam¬ 
eron  had  been  agent  under  Stuart,  had  suffered  much  for  his 
principles,  and  had  refused  offers  of  military  rank  from  South 
Carolinian  patriots ;  that  he  had  come  to  Virginia  with  dis¬ 
patches  from  the  governors  of  East  Florida  and  South  Caro¬ 
lina,  and  knowing  Indian  character  was  considered  by  Lord 
Dunmore  a  proper  person  to  join  his  (Connolly’s)  expedi¬ 
tion.  In  December,  1776,  Cameron  made  an  attempt  to  es¬ 
cape  from  the  Philadelphia  prison,  but  his  rope  broke,  and  he 
fell  fifty  feet,  being  found  in  an  apparently  dying  condition. 
He  partially  recovered,  however,  and  obtained  his  release  in 
the  winter  of  1778,  when  he  went  to  England,  his  physical  con¬ 
dition  debarring  him  from  further  military  service. — Ed. 

44  John  Ferdinand  Dalziel  Smyth  was  a  native  of  Scotland, 
who  came  to  America  a  few  years  before  the  Revolution,  and 
according  to  his  own  account,  published  as  A  Tour  in  tht 


CONNOLLY’S  PLOT 


139 


They  were  brought  into  Frederick-Town  on  Wed¬ 
nesday  morning,  and  on  Thursday  examined  before 
the  Committee.  On  searching  their  portmanteaus  a 
copy  of  Connolly’s  plan  was  found.45  Thus  you  see 
a  part  of  the  diabolical  scheme  is  defeated,  but  make 
no  doubt  but  Dunmore  will  land  an  army  at  Alex- 

United  States  of  America  (London,  1784),  travelled  extensively 
in  all  the  southern  and  western  portions  of  the  country.  He 
finally  bought  property  and  settled  in  Maryland,  whence  he 
was  driven  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  because  of 
his  Loyalist  sentiments.  Having  visited  Lord  Dunmore  at 
Norfolk,  he  was  induced  to  embark  in  Connolly’s  expedition. 
A  brief  account  of  his  arrest  is  given  in  Amer.  Archives ,  4th 
series,  iv,  p.  616,  note.  Having  made  a  bold  escape,  and  a  sub¬ 
sequent  push  for  Fort  Pitt,  charged  with  Connolly’s  orders,  he 
was  again  arrested  and  his  papers  confiscated,  he  being  sent  to 
Philadelphia  for  confinement.  He  finally  escaped  from  Balti¬ 
more  in  December,  1776,  reached  Lord  Howe  in  New  York, 
and  was  made  captain  in  the  Queen’s  Rangers.  In  that  capacity 
be  was  in  the  battle  of  Germantown.  Smyth  had  a  facile  pen, 
and  wrote  several  Loyalist  ballads  and  songs.  His  Tour  is 
not  to  be  trusted;  he  makes  therein  many  unauthenticated 
statements. — Ed. 

45  For  this  plan,  see  succeeding  document.  In  his  “Narra¬ 
tive,”  Connolly  says  that  the  search  of  the  committee  for  his 
papers  was  at  first  ineffectual,  as  both  he  and  Dr.  Smyth  had 
destroyed  all  incriminating  documents  before  leaving  Norfolk. 
Yet  “there  was  a  manuscript  that  had  been  wrapt  around  a 
stick  of  black  ball  by  my  servant,  so  soiled  and  besmeared,  as 
to  have  escaped  the  search  both  of  ourselves  there,  and  the 
committee  here,  who  were  as  industrious  as  they  were  sus¬ 
picious.  This  paper,  which  contained  a  rough  draft  of  propo¬ 
sitions,  supposed  to  have  been  laid  before  General  Gage  by 
me,  but  which  really  was  not  the  case,  was  discovered  in  con¬ 
sequence  of  a  fresh  examination  demanded  by  a  Member  of 
Congress,  who  arrived  at  the  committee  some  days  after  we 
had  been  taken  to  Frederick  Town,  and  was  published  as  my 
confession,  though  I  repeatedly,  and  with  truth,  denied  the 
justice  of  the  supposition.”  Connolly  also  states  that  his  im¬ 
portant  papers  were  concealed  in  the  pillion  sticks  of  his  sad¬ 
dle,  that  his  servant  obtained  access  to  the  shed  where  they 
were,  and  in  the  dead  of  the  night  destroyed  all  the  papers  save 
Connolly’s  commission,  which  he  managed  to  have  conveyed 
to  him. — Ed. 


140 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


andria  in  the  spring;  but  as  their  scheme  has  thus 
providentially  come  to  light,  hope  such  preparations 
will  be  made,  as  will  enable  us  to  give  him  the  re¬ 
ception  he  merits. 

Proposals  for  raising  an  army  to  the  Westward, 
and  for  effectually  obstructing  a  communication  be 
tween  the  Southern  and  Northern  Governments. 

“As  I  have,  by  directions  from  his  Excellency  Lord 
Dunmore,  prepared  the  Ohio  Indians  to  act  in  con¬ 
cert  with  me  against  his  Majesty’s  enemies  in  that 
quarter;  and  have  also  dispatched  intelligence  to  the 
different  officers  of  the  militia  on  the  frontiers  of 
Augusta  county,  in  Virginia,  giving  them  Lord  Dun- 
more’s  assurances  that  such  of  them  as  shall  here¬ 
after  evince  their  loyalty  to  his  Majesty,  by  putting 
themselves  under  my  command,  when  I  should  ap¬ 
pear  amongst  them  with  proper  authority  for  that 
purpose,  of  a  confirmation  of  titles  to  their  lands,  and 
the  quantity  of  three  hundred  acres  to  all  who  should 
take  up  arms  in  support  of  the  constitution,  when  the 
present  rebellion  subsided,  I  will  undertake  to  pene¬ 
trate  through  Virginia,  and  join  his  Excellency  Lord 
Dunmore  at  Alexandria  early  next  spring,  on  the  fol¬ 
lowing  conditions  and  authority. 

iCFirst ,  That  your  Excellency  will  give  me  a  com¬ 
mission  to  act  as  major  commandant  of  such  troops 
as  I  may  raise,  and  embody  on  the  frontiers,  with 
a  power  to  command  to  the  westward  and  employ 
such  serviceable  French  and  English  partizans  as  I 
can  engage  by  pecuniary  rewards  or  otherwise. 


CONNOLLY’S  PLOT 


141 


“Secondly,  That  your  Excellency  will  give  orders 
to  Capt.  Lord,  at  the  Illinois,  to  remove  himself, 
with  the  garrison  under  his  command,  from  Fort 
Gage  to  Detroit,46  by  the  Anabache  [Wabash],  bring¬ 
ing  with  him  all  the  artillery,  stores,  &c.  &c.  to  fa¬ 
cilitate  which  undertaking  he  is  to  have  authority  to 
hire  boats,  horses,  Frenchmen,  Indians  &c.  &c.  to 
proceed  with  all  possible  expedition  on  that  rout,  as 
the  weather  may  occasionally  permit,  and  to  put  him¬ 
self  under  my  command  on  his  arrival  at  Detroit. 

“Thirdly,  That  the  commissary  at  Detroit  shall  be 
empowered  to  furnish  such  provision  as  I  may  judge 
necessary  for  the  good  of  the  service,  and  that  the 
commanding  officer  shall  be  instructed  to  give  every 
possible  assistance  in  encouraging  the  French  and  In¬ 
dians  of  that  settlement  to  join  me. 

46  There  has  been  considerable  controversy  over  the  site  of 
Fort  Gage,  local  tradition  having  long  placed  it  on  the  east 
bank  of  Kaskaskia  River,  opposite  the  town.  This  appears  to 
have  been  the  actual  site  of  an  early  French  fort,  known  only 
as  Kaskaskia,  which  was  burned  in  1766;  and  of  Fort  Gage, 
a  later  American  fort,  occupied  in  the  first  years  of  the  nine¬ 
teenth  century.  The  British  Fort  Gage,  however,  was  situated 
in  the  village  itself,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  in  the 
southeastern  portion  of  the  town.  When  Captain  Lord  was 
obliged  to  abandon  Fort  Chartres  (1772),  he  removed  the  gar¬ 
rison  to  Kaskaskia,  and  occupied  the  house  that  had  belonged 
to  the  Jesuit  missionaries,  which  he  stockaded  and  called  Fort 
Gage.  This  was  the  stronghold  captured  by  George  Rogers 
Clark  on  July  4,  1778.  The  name  was  thereafter  changed  to 
Fort  Clark. 

Lord  removed  the  garrison  and  most  of  his  effects  from  Fort 
Gage  to  Detroit  in  May,  1776,  leaving  Philippe  de  Rocheblave 
in  command,  without  a  garrison.  It  has  been  assumed  that 
Lord's  retirement  was  due  to  Carleton’s  desire  to  concentrate 
and  cut  down  expense.  May  not  this  project  of  Connolly  and 
its  failure  account  in  at  least  some  measure  for  the  abandon¬ 
ment  of  the  Illinois? — Ed. 


142 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


“ Fourthly ,  That  an  officer  of  artillery  be  immedi¬ 
ately  sent  with  me  to  pursue  such  rout  as  I  may  find 
most  expedient  to  gain  Detroit,  with  orders  to  have 
such  pieces  of  light  ordnance  as  may  be  thought  re¬ 
quisite  for  the  demolishing  of  Fort  Dunmore  and  Fort 
Fincastle,  if  resistance  should  be  made  by  the  rebels 
in  possession  of  those  garrisons. 

“ Fifthly ,  That  your  Excellency  will  empower  me  to 
make  such  reasonable  presents  to  the  Indian  chiefs 
and  others,  as  may  urge  them  to  act  with  vigor  in 
the  execution  of  my  orders. 

“Sixthly,  That  your  Excellency  will  send  to  Lord 
Dunmore  such  arms  as  may  be  spared,  in  order  to 
equip  such  persons  as  may  be  willing  to  serve  his 
Majesty  at  our  junction,  in  the  vicinity  of  Alexan¬ 
dria,  &c.  &c.  If  your  Excellency  judges  it  expedi¬ 
ent  for  the  good  of  the  service,  to  furnish  me  with 
the  authority  and  other  requisites  I  have  mentioned, 
I  shall  embrace  the  earliest  opportunity  of  setting  off 
for  Canada,  and  shall  immediately  dispatch  Lord  Dun- 
more's  armed  schooner,  which  now  awaits  my  com¬ 
mands,  with  an  account  of  what  your  Excellency  has 
done,  and  that  I  shall  be  ready,  if  practicable,  to  join 
your  Lordship  by  the  twentieth  of  April,  at  Alex¬ 
andria,  where  the  troops  under  my  command  may  for¬ 
tify  themselves  under  my  cover  of  the  men  of  wair  on 
that  station. 

“If,  on  the  contrary,  your  Excellency  should  not 
approve  of  what  I  propose,  you  will  be  good  enough 
to  immediately  honor  me  with  your  dispatches  to  the 
Earl  of  Dunmore,  that  I  may  return  as  early  as  pos¬ 
sible. 


FRONTIER  CONDITIONS 


143 


THE  FRONTIERS,  EARLY  IN  1776 

[Summary  of  conditions  on  the  frontiers  in  the  first  months 

of  1776.] 

The  Virginia  Convention  met  at  Richmond  Dec.  1, 
1775,  and  adjourned  to  Williamsburgh,  where  ses¬ 
sions  were  held  until  January  20,  1776.  The 

raising  of  troops  occupied  a  large  part  of  the  time; 
arrangements  were  made  to  settle  the  accounts  of 
Dunrnore’s  War,  and  private  claims  to  the  fort  at 
Pittsburgh  were  adjudicated.47 

Meanwhile  according  to  the  reports  of  the  trader, 
John  Dodge,48  the  British  commandant  at  Detroit  was 
urging  the  Western  Indians  to  war  upon  the  American 
frontier  settlements.  Sometime  in  March,  a  French- 


47  See  minutes  in  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series,  iv,  pp.  75-112. 
The  claims  against  the  government  for  Fort  Pitt  grew  out  of 
the  purchase  made  in  1772  by  Alexander  Ross  and  William 
Thompson  of  the  buildings  of  the  fort,  when  it  was  abandoned 
by  the  British  garrison. — Ed. 

48  John  Dodge  was  born  in  Connecticut  about  1749.  In  1770 
he  entered  the  Indian  trade  and  settled  in  the  Wyandot  vil¬ 
lages  on  the  Sandusky,  where  he  acquired  considerable  in¬ 
fluence  over  the  savages.  Charged  with  leaning  to  the  colon¬ 
ists’  side,  he  was  arrested  in  January,  1776,  confined  at  Detroit, 
and  finally  sent  a  prisoner  to  Quebec,  whence  he  escaped  in 
1778  and  made  his  way  to  Boston.  He  was  received  with  cor¬ 
diality  by  Gates  and  Washington,  and  Congress  noticed  his 
case;  granting  him  a  compensation  in  land  for  his  losses  at 
Sandusky.  Having  visited  Virginia  he  made  the  acquaint¬ 
ance  of  Jefferson,  who  appointed  him  Indian  agent  for  the 
Illinois  country.  After  his  arrival  in  Kaskaskia,  he  became 
the  leader  of  the  military  party  in  that  county,  and  was  ac¬ 
cused  of  peculation  and  arbitrary  violence  with  the  inhabit¬ 
ants.  After  1782  he  dominated  the  settlement,  having  seized 
and  fortified  a  commanding  site.  In  1787  he  removed  to  Ste. 
Genevieve  on  the  Spanish  side  of  the  river  and  died  in  that 
vicinity  in  1794.  See  C.  W.  Alvord,  Cahokia  Records  (Spring- 
field,  Ill.,  1907),  pp.  xcv-cxx,  xiv. — Ed. 


144 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


man  named  Lorimier,49  who  had  large  influence  with 
the  Western  Indians,  left  Montreal  in  company  with 
two  Englishmen  to  visit  the  upper  country  and  secure 
adherents  for  the  British.50 

Reports  of  this  activity  on  the  part  of  the  British 
gave  great  uneasiness  to  the  Western  settlers,  now 
beginning  to  seek  the  rich  cane-lands  of  Kentucky, 
and  cultivating  the  Virginia  valleys  leading  to  the 
Ohio.  Want  of  ammunition  was  one  of  the  difficul¬ 
ties,  and  in  May,  George  Gibson  and  William  Linn 
led  an  expedition  down  the  Ohio,  in  order  to  procure 
supplies  of  powder  from  New  Orleans.51 

49  Peter  Lorimier  (Laramie,  Lorimie)  was  a  French  trader 
who  about  1769  established  a  trading  house  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Great  Miami,  since  called  from  his  name  Lorime’s 
Creek.  He  was  a  prominent  interpreter  and  Indian  agent  for 
the  British  during  the  Revolution  and  successive  Indian  wars. 
In  1778  he  was  one  of  the  party  that  captured  Daniel  Boone. 
In  1782,  Clark’s  expedition  rifled  his  post,  when  he  narrowly 
escaped  personal  capture.  He  remained  in  the  British  service 
until  about  1793,  when  with  a  considerable  band  of  Shawnee 
he  removed  across  the  Mississippi,  and  was  appointed  an  offi¬ 
cer  in  the  Spanish  service. — Ed. 

60  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series,  v,  p.  417. — Ed. 

51  For  the  result  of  this  expedition  see  post,  1 777. 

George  Gibson  was  a  brother  of  John,  being  born  in  Lan¬ 
caster  County,  Pa.,  in  1747.  Entering  a  mercantile  house  in 
Philadelphia,  he  made  several  voyages  to  the  West  Indies  as 
supercargo.  Early  becoming  interested  in  Western  lands,  he 
received  a  large  patent  on  the  Cumberland  in  1768.  At  the 
outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  raised  a  company  around  Fort 
Pitt,  where  his  battalion  was  known  as  “Gibson’s  Lambs,” 
and  reinforced  the  Virginia  line.  His  venturesome  expedition 
to  New  Orleans  (1 776-77)  brought  him  promotion,  and  he 
joined  Washington’s  army  as  colonel,  serving  in  the  Jersey 
campaigns.  Retiring  to  his  home  in  Cumberland  County 
(Pa.)  he  became  county  lieutenant  and  in  that  capacity  led 
out  a  regiment  to  re-inforce  St.  Clair,  and  was  killed  in  the 
Indian  battle  of  1791. 

Col.  William  Linn  was  born  in  Warren  County,  N.  J.,  in 
1734.  In  his  youth  he  removed  to  western  Maryland  and  took 


A  COMMISSION 


145 


At  Fort  Pitt,  Captain  Neville  was  occupied  with 
garrison  duties  and  Indian  negotiations.  An  expedi¬ 
tion  against  Detroit  was  considered  by  Congress,  up¬ 
on  the  suggestion  of  Gen.  Charles  Lee,  seconded  by 
Washington;  but  in  the  multitude  of  affairs  the  pro¬ 
ject  was  lost  sight  of,  and  because  of  insufficient 
means  was  dropped.52 


A  CAPTAIN’S  COMMISSION 

[Virginia  Committee  of  Safety  to  William  Harrod. 

4NN27 — D.  S.] 

The  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Colony  of  Virginia. 

To  William  Harrod53  Gentleman — By  Virtue  of 
the  Power  and  Authority  invested  in  us,  by  the  Dele- 

active  part  in  Forbes’s  campaign  (1758),  being  wounded  in 
McDonald’s  expedition  of  1774.  When  George  Gibson  en¬ 
listed  his  rifle  company  (1775),  Linn  went  with  him  as  first 
lieutenant.  He  also  joined  Gibson’s  New  Orleans  expedition, 
performing  the  difficult  exploit  of  bringing  a  considerable  sup¬ 
ply  of  powder  up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  to  Pittsburgh  (see 
post).  In  1777  he  was  out  with  Foreman’s  party,  but  by  his 
sagacity  escaped  the  massacre,  bringing  the  news  of  the  de¬ 
feat  to  Forts  Shepherd  and  Henry.  The  next  year,  Linn  joined 
George  Rogers  Clark’s  expedition,  took  part  in  the  Kaskaskia 
campaign,  and  settled  a  station  not  far  from  Louisville.  In 
1780  he  was  colonel  of  militia  in  the  Indian  campaign  of  that 
year,  but  was  shot  and  mortally  wounded  by  Indians  near  his 
home,  March  5,  1781. — Ed. 

52  See  Journals  of  the  Continental  Congress  (Washington, 
1906),  iv,  pp.  301,  318,  373;  also  Amer.  Archives,  4th  series, 
vi,  p.  403 ;  and  Penna.  Colon.  Records,  x,  p.  525. — Ed. 

53  For  a  brief  sketch  of  William  Harrod,  see  Duntnore’s 
War,  p.  68,  note  14.  The  commission  is  issued  on  a  printed 
form,  the  words  here  printed  in  Italics  being  written  in  the 
blank  spaces.  The  signatures  are  autographs. — Ed. 

10 


146 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


gates  and  Representatives  of  the  several  Counties  and 
Corporations  in  General  Convention  assembled,  we, 
reposing  especial  Trust  and  Confidence  in  your  Patrio¬ 
tism,  Fidelity,  Courage,  and  good  Conduct,  do,  by 
these  Presents,  constitute  and  appoint  you  to  be  Cap¬ 
tain  of  the  Militia  of  the  District  of  West  Augusta; 
and  you  are  therefore  carefully  and  diligently  to  dis¬ 
charge  the  Trust  reposed  in  you,  by  disciplining  all 
Officers  and  Soldiers  under  your  Command.  And  we 
do  hereby  require  them  to  obey  you,  as  their  Captain. 
And  you  are  to  observe  and  follow  all  such  Orders 
and  Directions  as  you  shall  from  Time  to  Time  re¬ 
ceive  from  the  Convention,  the  Committee  of  Safety 
for  the  Time  being,  or  any  superior  Officers,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  Rules  and  Regulations  established  by  the 
Convention. 

Given  under  our  Hands,  at  Williamsburgh  this  7th 
Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1776. 

John  Page 
Dudley  Digges 
P.  Carrington 
Thos  Lud.  Lee 
Jos.  Jones 
Thomas  Walker54 


54  Members  of  the  committee  of  safety,  who  were  in  charge 
of  the  executive  department  of  the  government  until  the  elec¬ 
tion  of  Patrick  Henry  as  first  governor  of  the  state  of  Vir¬ 
ginia,  June  29,  1776.  This  committee  consisted  of  eleven  mem¬ 
bers,  those  in  office  at  the  time  of  this  commission  being 
chosen  by  the  convention  on  Dec.  16,  1775.  All  had  previously 
served  on  the  committee,  save  Joseph  Jones  of  King  George 
County,  and  Thomas  Walker,  who  replaced  George  Mason  and 
Carter  Braxton. — Ed. 


AT  DETROIT 


H  7 


INFORMATION  REGARDING  DETROIT 

[Unsigned  letter.  3U580.] 

Detroit  2&  April  1776 

Detroit  is  garrisoned  by  120  Soldiers  of  the  8th. 
r eg1  commanded  by  Cap11  Richard  Berenger  Ler* 
noult,55  the  soldiers  seen  indifferant  about  the  pres¬ 
ent  unhappy  Disputes.  An  attack  has  been  long  sus¬ 
pected  From  Fort  Pitt  and  Fasines  prepared  for  De¬ 
fence  of  the  Citadal.  at  present  there  is  none  sus¬ 
pected  for  this  season,  a  Serjant  and  12  men  mounte 
guard  in  the  town,  and  A  Corporal  and  4  men  in 
the  Citidal,  half  their  number  are  centries.  Supplies 
of  amunition  and  provisions  are  received  from  Canada 
By  the  way  of  Niagara,  of  the  Former  there  is  about 
a  Tun  of  Powder,  ball  And  Shott  in  proportion,  of  the 
,  Latter  Sufficient  to  next  August  or  Sept1*.  The  French 
are  desirous  of  remaining  neuter,  there  is  no  Noblesse 
among  Them  to  stir  them  up.  the  English  are  in 
General  well  disposed,  there  is  two  Priest[s],  one 
on  the  S  E  side  of  the  river  (a  Jesuit^  Pere  Poutie) 
the  other  In  the  Fort  (a  Recolet  Pere  Semple)56 


65  Henry  Hamilton  arrived  as  lieutenant-governor,  Nov.  9, 
1775 ;  Lernoult  was,  however,  in  charge  of  the  troops  of  the 
garrison  until  sometime  in  the  summer  of  1776. — Ed. 

60  Pere  Pierre  Potier  was  born  in  Belgium  in  1708,  entered 
the  Jesuit  order  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  came  to 
America  in  1743.  After  a  year  spent  in  studying  the  Huron 
language,  he  was  sent  to  re-inforce  the  Huron  mission  at  De¬ 
troit.  This  mission  had  been  established  at  Pointe  de  Montreal 
(now  Sandwich,  Ont.)  by  Pere  de  la  Richardie.  Upon  the  lat¬ 
ter’s  retirement,  Potier  became  superior  of  the  mission,  minis¬ 
tering  to  both  Huron  converts  and  French  habitants.  During 
Pontiac’s  conspiracy,  he  is  thought  to  have  furnished  useful 
information  to  the  British  garrison.  As  a  philologist  he  ac¬ 
cumulated  material  on  the  Huron  grammar,  and  left  a  con- 


148 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


The  Millitia  are  Embodid,  but  not  Deciplined  or  Exer 
cised.  their  number  is  about  350  which  includes  ah 
able  To  bear  arms,  their  Capts  are  PieVe  Reaume 
Joseph  Bundes,  Jacque  Campeau,  Bapt  Chapaten,67 
Phillip  Di jean, 58  and  James  Sterling,59  their  intention 


siderable  body  of  manuscripts — see  Thwaites,  Jesuit  Relations , 
lxix,  Ixx.  His  death  in  1781  was  due  to  an  accidental  fall. 

Pere  Simple  (Simplicus  Bocquet)  was  priest  of  the  church 
of  St.  Anne,  1754-84.  This,  the  first  church  built  at  Detroit, 
was  placed  by  its  founders  under  the  care  of  the  Recollects, 
and  was  thus  maintained  until  after  the  Revolution.  Father 
Simple  was  at  his  post  during  Pontiac’s  conspiracy,  and  at  the 
time  of  the  Revolution  was  spoken  of  as  an  excellent,  kind- 
hearted  old  man. — Ed. 

67  All  these  were  prominent  members  of  Detroit  French  fam¬ 
ilies.  The  first  Pierre  Reaume  came  with  his  brother  Hya- 
cinthe  to  Detroit  before  1726.  Many  descendants  of  both 
branches  spread  over  the  Northwest.  Capt.  Pierre  Reaume 
was  dismissed  from  the  service  before  1778,  but  continued  to 
reside  in  Detroit  some  time  thereafter. 

Joseph  Douaire  de  Bondy  came  to  Detroit  from  Montreal 
about  1730.  His  son  Joseph  married  at  the  former  city  in  1758, 
was  still  captain  of  militia  in  1778,  and  was  on  the  tax  roll  of 
1799- 

The  Campeaus  were  a  prominent  Detroit  family,  whose  pro¬ 
genitor  came  to  that  place  as  an  armorer  as  early  as  1710. 
Jacques  Junior  married  in  1760  Catharine  Menard.  He  had 
resigned  his  captaincy  by  1778,  and  Jean  Baptiste  Campeau 
had  been  appointed  in  his  place. 

The  first  Jean  Baptiste  Chapoton  came  to  Detroit  in  1718 
as  "surgeon  to  the  garrison.  His  son,  born  in  1721,  was  active 
in  interceding  with  Pontiac  in  1763.  A  petition  of  1769  shows 
him  as  a  prominent  merchant.  He  resigned  his  captaincy  be¬ 
fore  1778,  and  was  freely  accused  of  sympathy  with  the  Amer¬ 
ican  colonists. — Ed. 

58  Philip  de  Jean  was  probably  born  in  France,  coming  to 
Detroit  as  merchant  shortly  before  the  English  conquest.  Be¬ 
coming  a  British  subject  he  was  appointed  (1767)  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  is  said  to  have  served  the  interests  of  the  military 

59  James  Sterling  came  to  America  with  the  British  forces 
during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  served  as  commissary 
under  Haldimand  in  1759-60.  At  the.  close  of  the  war  he 
settled  in  Detroit,  where  he  married  into  a  French  family, 


AT  DETROIT 


149 


are  To  Remain  neuter.  The  Savages  are  wavering, 
and  divided,  Frequent  Councils  have  [been],  and  are 
held  with  them,  By  the  commanding  officer  asisted 
By  Jehu  Hay  Indian  Agent  at  this  place,  they  are 
desired  to  Opose  Any  Body  of  men  that  may  penetrate 
into  their  Country,  this  is  All  that  has  transpired 
and  it  does  not  appear  that  any  general  Combination 
is  Formed  among  them.  There  is  two  armed  Schoon¬ 
ers  On  the  Lake  Bellonging  to  the  Crown,  mounting 
12  Six  pounders  each,  the  Largest  the  General  Gage 
is  commanded  by  James  Andrews,60  the  other  the 
Dunmore  Is  commanded  by  David  Bolton,  Besides 
these,  there  is  two  Schooners  and  two  Sloops  bellong¬ 
ing  to  Cap1  Alexdr  who  commands  the  whole  Naval 

commandants  while  acting  in  that  capacity.  In  1779  he  was 
on  his  way  to  re-inforce  Hamilton  at  Vincennes,  when  he  was 
captured  by  a  force  sent  out  by  George  Rogers  Clark,  and 
with  others  sent  a  prisoner  to  Virginia.  Having  accepted  a 
parole  in  October,  1779,  he  visited  the  Illinois,  and  was  de¬ 
sirous  of  communicating  with  his  family  in  Detroit.  The  con¬ 
duct  of  the  British  authorities  exasperated  De  Jean,  who  re¬ 
solved  to  live  no  longer  under  English  rule,  whereupon  he  vis¬ 
ited  France,  and  in  1786  was  naval  agent  of  that  government 
at  New  London,  Conn.  The  French  Revolution  involved  him 
in  serious  financial  difficulties,  and  having  retired  to  the  West 
Indies  he  died  a  prisoner  on  the  island  of  Jamaica  in  1795. 
These  biographical  details,  derived  from  the  Draper  MSS., 
are  believed  to  have  been  hitherto  unpublished. — Ed. 


and  became  the  chief  merchant  of  the  place.  His  knowledge 
of  Indian  languages  gave  him  government  employ  as  inter¬ 
preter,  and  his  popularity  with  the  French  led  to  his  being 
chosen  militia  captain.  Later  (1777),  he  was  suspected  of 
sympathy  with  the  Americans,  deprived  of  his  office,  and  sent 
to  Canada  to  give  security  for  his  conduct. — Ed. 

60  Capt.  James  Andrews  was  a  lake  captain  in  the  North¬ 
west  as  early  as  1773.  He  was  highly  recommended  by  Gov¬ 
ernor  Hamilton  in  1778,  being  promoted  to  command  the  ship¬ 
ping  on  Lake  Ontario,  an  office  which  he  held  until  his  de¬ 
cease,  late  in  1780  or  early  in  1781. — Ed. 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


150 

Department,  and  one  Sloop  bellonging  to  Messrs. 
McTavish  and  McBeth61  William  Rinhen  [?]  Com¬ 
mands  one  of  the  Sloops  called  the  Angelica62  the 
others  are  At  present  without  Masters.  To  man  the 
whole  there  is  30  Seamen  and  Servants,  among  that 
number  are  very  few  seamen  and  not  one  Gunner, 
they  are  generally  disatisfied  with  the  Service,  and 
will  make  a  poor  resistance.  The  Vessels  commands 
the  Fort,  which  is  only  defended  by  a  Stocade  of 
Picquets  about  9  Feet' out  of  the  earth,  without  Frize 
or  ditch.  The  Picquets  are  mostly  cedar,  and  gener- 
aly  Sound.  There  is  about  20  Boats  at  the  place  cap¬ 
able  of  car  frying]  [Ms.  torn]  Barrels  each,  and 
boards  Sufficent  to  build  60  more. 

The  armed  Schooners  are  at  Fort  Erie63  (an  In- 


61  Simon  McTavish  was  one  of  the  fur-traders  who  founded 
the  North  West  Company.  Coming  early  to  the  West,  he  was 
in  1782  enrolled  as  a  citizen  of  Detroit.  Later,  he  made  his 
home  in  Montreal,  directing  the  affairs  of  the  fur-trade  in  so 
able  but  arbitrary  a  manner  that  he  became  known  as  “le  Mar¬ 
quis/’  After  founding  a  large  fortune  through  what  was  es¬ 
sentially  a  trade  monopoly,  he  died  at  Montreal  in  1804. 

George  McBeath  was  likewise  a  Scotchman  prominently 
identified  with  the  Northwestern  fur-trade.  One  of  the  found¬ 
ers  of  the  North  West  Company,  he  operated  largely  in  Wis¬ 
consin,  with  headquarters  at  Mackinac,  making  himself  useful 
to  the  British  commandants  at  the  latter  post.  In  1783  he  ac¬ 
companied  Charles  de  Langlade  t<3  Prairie  du  Chien  to  hold 
a  conference  with  the  Indians  and  announce  the  Peace  of 
Paris. — Ed. 

62  The  “Angelica”  was  wrecked  on  the  lakes  in  the  autumn 
of  1783. — Ed. 

63  Fort  Erie,  at  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Erie,  on  the  west 
bank  of  Niagara  River,  was  built  in  1764  by  Capt.  John  Mon- 
tressor,  who  prepared  the  way  for  Col.  John  Bradstreet’s  ex¬ 
pedition  to  Detroit.  During  the  Revolution  it  was  maintained 
chiefly  as  a  supply  depot.  It  was  rebuilt  at  intervals  (1778, 
1790,  1807),  and  during  the  War  of  1812-15  was  an  important 
factor  in  the  British-American  contest.  After  a  spirited  de- 


AT  NIAGARA 


151 

significant  [fort]  garrisoned  by  20  Men)  during  the 
months  of  may  and  June,  one  of  them  once  took  all 
the  others,  with  Detroit  and  Michilimacinack  falls 
Presguile64  is  only  Ninety  miles  from  Fort  Erie. 


INDIANS  VISIT  NIAGARA 

[Summary  of  printed  documents  in  Amer.  Archives ,  4th  series, 

v,  pp.  815-820.] 

In  a  letter  of  Richard  Butler65  dated  at  Fort  Pitt, 
April  8,  1776,  he  states  that  Kiasola66  with  two  mes- 


fense  during  August  and  September,  1814,  the  Americans  blew 
up  the  fort  upon  their  departure  in  November.  The  ruins  re¬ 
mained  until  i860  or  later.  The  Canadian  government  has 
since  rebuilt  and  regarrisoned  this  fort. — Ed. 

64  Fort  Presqu’isle  was  built  (1753)  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Erie,  Pa.,  by  a  French  expedition  under  the  leadership 
of  Captain  Marin.  In  1758  it  was  greatly  strengthened,  but 
upon  the  capture  of  Forts  Pitt  (1758)  and  Niagara  (1759)  was 
abandoned  by  the  French  and  secured  by  the  British.  The 
English  garrison  at  this  point  fell  victims  to  Pontiac’s  conspir¬ 
acy  in  1763;  and  here,  the  following  year,  Bradstreet  held  a 
conference  with  the  tribesmen.  The  fort  was  not  rebuilt  dur¬ 
ing  the  Revolution;  but  in  1793  Wayne  reared  a  block-house 
on  this  site,  and  here  he  died  (1796)  two  years  after  his  great 
victory.  A  garrison  was  maintained  here  until  the  breaking- 
out  of  the  War  of  1812-15,  when  Erie  became  an  important 
naval  station,  being  the  harbor  whence  Perry’s  fleet  issued  for 
the  battle  of  Lake  Erie.  The  naval  station  was  not  finally 
abandoned  until  1825. — Ed. 

65  Gen.  Richard  Butler  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1743.  When 
quite  young  his  father  brought  him  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
grew  up  in  the  Cumberland  Valley.  About  1770,  with  his 
brother  William,  he  embarked  in  the  Indian  trade  at  Fort  Pitt. 
A  partisan  of  Pennsylvania  during  the  boundary  disputes,  But¬ 
ler  did  not  serve  under  Dunmore,  and  was  opposed  to  all  of 

66  Kiasola  is  another  form  of  the  Seneca  name  Guyashusta, 
for  whom  see  ante ,  p.  38,  note  65. — Ed. 


152 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


sengers  from  Colonel  Butler,67  commandant  at  Ni¬ 
agara,  came  to  Fort  Pitt  recently,  with  a  letter  to 
Captain  McKee.  As  Kiasola  was  determined  to  go  t<t 
Niagara,  Agent  Butler  sent  him  off  with  several  mes¬ 
sages  intended  to  secure  the  Indians,  especially  the 
Delawares,  in  their  neutrality. 

The  Indians  are  alarmed  at  the  exorbitant  price  of 
goods,  which  Agent  Butler  explains  as  occasioned  by 
the  war. 

April  9,  he  continues  his  letter,  with  news  of  the 
arrival  of  John  Gibson,  with  several  Shawnee,  who 
come  bringing  in  white  'prisoners,  according  to  the 
agreement  at  the  treaty  of  1775.68 

Connolly’s  measures.  After  the  Fort  Pitt  treaty  of  1775,  he 
was  appointed  by  Congress  as  Indian  agent  at  Fort  Pitt,  an 
office  held  by  him  until  May,  1776,  when  he  was  superseded  by 
George  Morgan.  In  July  of  the  same  year,  Butler  was  made 
major  of  the  continental  line;  becoming  lieutenant-colonel  in 
1777,  he  became  one  of  the  most  efficient  Revolutionary  offi¬ 
cers,  serving,  however,  largely  in  the  Eastern  army.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  retired  with  the  brevet  of  brigadier-gen¬ 
eral.  In  1784  he  was  chosen  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs, 
commissioner  for  several  Indian  treaties,  and  while  second  in 
command  of  St.  Clair’s  army,  fell  in  the  battle  of  November, 
1791. — Ed. 

67  Col.  John  Butler  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  early 
removed  to  the  Mohawk  Valley,  and  became  a  trusted  assist¬ 
ant  of  Sir  William  Johnston,  acting  as  interpreter  in  Indian 
councils,  and  as  leader  of  war-parties  in  the  French  and  In¬ 
dian  War.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  adhered  to 
the  Royalist  side,  and  was  left  in  New  York  by  Sir  John  John¬ 
son  when  he  retired  to  Canada,  in  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the 
Six  Nations.  In  1777  he  enlisted  a  company  of  rangers  that 
devasted  the  New  York  frontier,  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Oriskany,  and  led  the  raid  against  Wyoming  (1778).  It  is 
said  that  his  conduct  on  that  occasion  lost  him  the  honor  of 
knighthood.  After  the  Revolution  he  retired  to  Canada,  re¬ 
ceived  a  pension  from  the  government,  and  died  at  Niagara  in 
1794.— Ed. 

68  See  ante ,  p.  126. — Ed. 


I 


IN  KENTUCKY 


153 


The  Indians  complain  of  a  survey  made  recently 
by  Col.  William  Crawford  for  John  Harvie  and 
Charles  Simms,69  of  an  island  below  Pittsburgh,  that 
is  claimed  by  John  Montour. 


ALARM  IN  KENTUCKY 

[John  Floyd  to  Col.  William  Preston.  33S291  —  transcript 

made  by  Draper.] 

Powell’s  Valley,70  1st  May,  1776. 

Dear  Colonel — We  have  been  much  discouraged 
on  the  way  by  alarms  &c,  but  on  our  arrival  here  find 
the  greatest  part  of  the  news  to  be  false.  I  met  so 
many  people  removing  in,  as  I  went  down  Holston 
that  I  thought  it  best  to  leave  my  negro  wench  &  her 
child  on  the  way.  I  need  say  nothing  about  the  mis¬ 
chief  that  has  been  done,  as  Mr  Lee,  brother  to  Willis 
Lee,  who  is  killed,  can  give  you  a  history  of  the  whole 


69  John  Harvie  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Jefferson’s  guardian, 
who  lived  at  “Belmont”  in  Albemarle  County,  Virginia.  The 
younger  Harvie  represented  West  Augusta  district  in  the  Vir¬ 
ginia  conventions  of  1775  and  1776,  and  in  May  of  the  latter 
year  was  chosen  one  of  the  Indian  commissioners  for  the 
Middle  Department.  Later  he  was  a  member  of  the  Conti¬ 
nental  Congress,  and  had  charge  of  the  prisoners  captured  at 
Burgoyne’s  surrender,  whom  he  quartered  near  his  home  in 
Albemarle.  Through  Jefferson’s  good  offices  Harvie  was  ap¬ 
pointed  register  of  the  land  office  at  Richmond,  whither  he 
removed  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  and  where  he  was 
mayor  in  1786.  He  died  at  his  home,  “Belvidere,”  near  Rich¬ 
mond,  in  1807.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Gabriel  Jones,  the 
well-known  Augusta  County  lawyer. 

For  Col.  Charles  Simms  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  317,  note 
34.— Ed.  _  . 

70  For  Powell’s  Valley  see  Ibid,.,  p.  4,  note  6. — Ed. 


154 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


that  may  be  relied  on.71  We  are  all  well,  &  are  6 
in  number.  Mr  Todd72  overtook  us  last  night.  *  *  * 
Capt.  Martin's  compliments  to  you. 

Jno.  Floyd.73 


71  Willis  Lee  of  Fauquier  County,  Virginia,  visited  Kentucky 
in  1774  with  his  cousin,  Hancock  Taylor,  and  other  surveyors 
(see  Ibid.,  p.  23),  and  was  wounded  when  Taylor  was  killed. 
Lee  recovered,  and  returned  to  Kentucky  the  following  year, 
laying  out  the  site  of  Leestown,  a  mile  below  Frankfort  on  the 
Kentucky  River.  The  brother  to  whom  Floyd  refers  was  Han¬ 
cock  Lee,  under  whom  George  Rogers  Clark  was  engaged  as 
surveyor  for  the  Ohio  Company  (1775).  Willis  Lee  visited 
Kentucky  in  1773,  and  again  in  1774  when  he  joined  McDon¬ 
ald’s  Wapatomica  expedition.  Having  built  cabins  at  Lees¬ 
town,  that  had  been  attacked  by  Indians  (see  post),  he  was 
now  returning  to  Virginia. — Ed. 

72  Gen.  Levi  Todd,  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1756,  was  edu¬ 
cated  in  Virginia,  and  went  to  Kentucky  with  Floyd  in  1776. 
In  1777,  he  was  first  clerk  of  Kentucky  >County,  and  the  next 
year  was  a  lieutenant  in  Clark’s  Kaskaskia  expedition.  After 
the  taking  of  that  town  he  went  on  a  secret  mission  to  the 
Spaniards  across  the  river,  and  then  escorted  Clark’s  prison¬ 
ers  to  Virginia.  In  1779  he  commanded  a  company  on  Bow¬ 
man’s  expedition,  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  laid  out  a 
station  ten  miles  above  Lexington,  but  soon  removed  to  the 
latter  place  as  more  protected,  and  was  one  of  the  first  lot- 
holders  of  that  town.  In  1782,  as  major  of  militia,  he  col¬ 
lected  a  force  to  relieve  Bryant’s  Station,  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Blue  Licks,  wherein  his  brother  fell.  All  his  life  in 
public  employ,  he  became  a  brigadier  and  finally  a  major-gen¬ 
eral  of  militia.  From  the  time  of  the  organization  of  Fayette 
County,  he  was  clerk  of  the  court,  and  a  member  of  both  Dan¬ 
ville  conventions  to  agitate  the  new-state  movement.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Lexington  in  1807,  leaving  a  large  family.  One 
granddaughter  became  the  wife  of  Abraham  Lincoln. — Ed. 

73  For  Capt.  Joseph  Martin,  at  whose  house  Floyd  no  doubt 
wrote  this  letter,  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  235,  note  64.  For 
Floyd,  Ibid.,  p.  9,  note  13. — Ed. 


TROUBLE  PREDICTED 


155 


PROTECTION  FOR  THE  FRONTIER 

[Patrick  Lockhart  to  the  chairman  of  the  Botetourt  commit¬ 
tee.  1U16  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Williamsburg  14th  May  1776 
Sir — Cap1  John  Gibson  who  arrived  here  yesterday 
Informs  us  that  there  is  a  great  Probability  that  they 
Wayndott  Taway  &  other  Indians  will  be  Trouble¬ 
some  on  our  Frontiers  this  Summer,  They  have  been 
to  the  De  Troit  &  Recd.  Presents  from  the  Command¬ 
ant  there ;  an  application  was  made  to  the  Convention 
&  a  Supply  of  500lb  Gunpowder  is  ordered  for  your 
County  which  will  be  forwarded  with  all  Possible  Des¬ 
patch  also  Barr  Lead  is  to  be  Procured' from  Chissells 
Mines74  &  I  hope  that  if  they  should  Attempt  any 
thing  on  our  Frontiers  that  Perhaps  the  Inhabitants 
will  endeavor  to  Repel  them ;  I  shall  apply  in  the 
Morning  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  who  is  to  send 
the  Gunpowder  to  the  Care  of  your  County  Com¬ 
mittee  &  Expects  they  will  write  you  in  regard  to 
it  I  also  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  a  Resolve  is 
past  in  the  Convention  that  the  Money  Collected  to 
Purchase  Gunpowder  &c.  is  to  be  return’d  to  the  Re¬ 
spective  Persons  that  paid  it  &  any  Ammun[it]ion  Fur¬ 
nished  is  to  be  a  Public  Charge  therefore  I  think 
it  might  be  returned  the  People  at  any  time  that  there 
was  an  Opportunity  on  their  Producing  the  Rects 
given  by  the  Collectors. 

I  am  Sir  your  m°  Hble  Serv1 

Pat  Lockhart75 

74  For  location  of  these  mines,  see  Ibid.,  p.  52,  note  90. — Ed. 

76  Patrick  Lockhart  was  a  prominent  merchant  of  Botetourt, 
who  represented  his  county  in  the  Virginia  legislature  of  1776. 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


156 

N.  B.  Mr  Gibson  reports  that  the  Shanese  &  Dela¬ 
wares  does  not  seem  to  have  any  Hostile  Intention 
against  [us], 

P.  L. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Botetourt. 


[Col.  William  Preston  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  1U18  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

May  the  30th.  1776 

Sir — I  am  Just  Favoured  with  Yours  of  the  27th 
covering  a  Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Cap1  Lockhart  to 
the  Chairman  of  Botetourt  Committee. 

Should  the  Tawaws,  Wyandots  &  those  Tribes  be¬ 
yond  the  Ohio  break  out,  this  County  and  the  Inhabi¬ 
tants  on  'Greenbrier  will  be  in  a  distrest  Situation; 
But  if  the  Shawnesse  &  Delawares  &,Mingoes  do  not 
Join  them,  I  can  hardly  think  they  would  undertake 
a, War  at  so  great  a  Distance.  However,  be  that  as 
it  will,  it  is  our  Duty  to  endeavour  all  we  can  to  be 
prepared  foir  the ,  worst.  The  Supply  of  Ammunition 
given  by  the  Convention  will  be  a  great  encouragement 
to  the  People  on  the  Frontiers  who  were  intirely  des¬ 
titute  of  that  Article.76 

'U  \*/  ^ 

/|X 

Tho’  the  Supply  Granted  by  the  Convention  will  be 
a  great  Relief :  to  the  Frontiers,  yet  I  cannot  conceive 

His  name  appears  as  late  as  1789  in  the  annals  of  that  state, 
serving  as  trustee  for  erecting  towns,  as  member  of  the  James 
River  Improvement  Company,  and  as  major  of  militia  for  his 
county. — Ed. 

76  The  omitted  portions  deal  with  the  outbreak  of  the  Cher¬ 
okee,  and  the  preparation  for  war  in  the  Southwest. — Ed. 


TROUBLE  PREDICTED 


157 


that  it  will  be  sufficent  in  case  of  a  War,  which  we 
ought  at  all  Events  to  be  prepared  for.  Therefore 
I  am  of  Opinion  it  would  be  imprudent  not  to  lay  up 
a  larger  Stock  .of  Powder,  and  of  Course  that  the 
Collection  ought  not  to  be  refunded,  at  least  for  some 
time.  '  Should  there  be  no  Occasion  to  use  the  Powder 
in  our  Defence,  it  will  at  a  future  Day  sell  for 'the 
same,  or  nearly  so,  that  it  costs ;  then  the  Money  may 
be  returned  &  no  Man  Injured  except  by  laying  a 
little  longer  out  of  a  very  triffle.  Should  there  be 
Occasion  to  use  it  for  the  General  Defence  of  the 
Country,  then  the  Public  will  Refund  the  Money  to 
the  Committees  who  can  readily  repay  it  to  the  People. 
These  Steps  I  hope  will  be  taken  by  our  Committee, 
and  I  would  fain  hope  will  be  adopted  by  Yours. 

I  expect  a  Man  toNight  or  toMorrow  from  the 
lower  Settlement  of  Holston  for  Powder  If  he  brings 
any  Interesting  News  I  shall  Communicate  it  to  you, 
and  shall  always  be  glad  to  Co-operate  with  you  in 
every  Measure  that  may  be  for  the  Safety  and  Pro¬ 
tection  of  the  Frontiers. 

I  have  •  some  Intention  of  going  to  Botetourt  next 
Week,  if  I  go  down,  I  shall  do  myself  the  Pleasure 
to  spend  an  Evening  with  you,  when  we  can  talk  those 
Matters  fully  over,  &  fix  on  some  general  Plan  for 
the  Defence  of  the  Frontiers  untill  Instructions  can 
be  recd  from  the  Committee  [of  safety],  to  whom  I 
have  forwarded  all  the  Int  [Ms.  torn]  I  recd  from 
the  Westward.  In  [the  mean]  time  beleive  me  to  be 
Dr ,  Sir 

Your  sincere  Well  wisher  &  hble  serv1 

Wm  Preston 


158 


REVOLUTION  ON  UR  PER  OHIO 


GARRISON  FOR  POINT  PLEASANT;  INDIAN 

AFFAIRS 

[Summary  of  printed  documents.]77 

George  Morgan  writes  to  Lewis  Morris,  May  16 
1776,  from  Pittsburgh,  where  he  has  just  arrived  to 
supersede  Richard  ,  Butler  in  the  conduct  of  Indian 
affairs.  Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle78  with  a  company  of 
Virginia  troops  left  Fort  Pitt,  May  15,  for  <  the  Great 
Kanawha.  The  Seneca  Indians  are  to  be  suspected, 
and  Morgan  .fears  that  an  expedition  from  Niagara 
is  being  planned  against  Pittsburgh,  because  the  carry¬ 
ing  place  (portage)79  has  been  lately  reconnoitred. 
In  June  he  expects  several  Seneca  chiefs,80  with 
Shawnee  and  Delawares,  and  hopes  for  deputies  from 
the  Wabash  confederacy.81 

May  31,  1776,  Morgan  wrote  to  the  commandant 
at  Detroit  to  the  effect  that  he  had  heard  of  letters 


77  The  following  summary  is  compiled  from  Amer.  Archives, 
4th  series,  vi,  pp.  474,  475;  and  Joseph  H.  Bausman,  History  of 
Beaver  County  (N.  Y.,  1904),  p.  70,  which  contains  extracts 
from  Morgan’s  letter-book  preserved  in  the  Carnegie  Library, 
Pittsburgh. — Ed. 

78  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle,  see  Dun- 
more’s  War ,  p.  103,  note  49. — Ed. 

79  The  carrying  place,  or  portage,  here  referred  to,  would  on 
first  thought  be  that  between  Erie  (Presqu’isle),  Pa.,  and 
French  Creek,  where  old  Fort  Le  Bceuf  had  stood.  This  por¬ 
tage,  however,  was  thirteen  miles  in  length,  so  that  probably 
Morgan  had  in  mind  the  Chautauqua  portage,  which  although 
rougher  is  shorter ;  about  nine  miles  by  the  old  road  cut  by 
Celoron  in  1749. — Ed. 

80  See  description  of  negotiations  by  Seneca  chief,  post. — Ed. 

81  The  Wabash  (Anabache,  Ouabache)  confederacy  con¬ 
sisted  of  the  various  branches  of  the  Miami  tribe  situated  on 
that  river,  together  with  the  remnants  of  Mascoutin  and  Kick- 
apoo  tribes  that  had  settled  near  old  Fort  Ouiatanon,  on  the 
upper  Wabash. — Ed. 


BLACKSNAKE’S  NARRATIVE 


159 


having  been  sent  to  him  that  had  not  reached  Fort 
Pitt.  He  informs  his  correspondent  that  no  colonial 
army  is  now  on  the  march  to  Detroit ;  but  the  fron¬ 
tier  settlers  are  prepared  to  defend  themselves  should 
the  Indians  attack  them. 


CONFERENCE  AT  FORT  PITT 

[Blacksnake’s  account  of  a  visit  to  Pittsburgh.  16F109-114.]82 

When  I  was  about  fourteen  years  of  my  ageS3  I 
have  than  .taken  more  Notice  of  our  chiefs  councils 

82  The  following  account  is  taken  from  the  life  of  Gover¬ 
nor  Blacksnake,  dictated  by  him  in  1845-46  to  Benjamin 
Williams,  a  partially-educated  half-breed,  at  Dr.  Draper’s  re¬ 
quest.  As  it  is  impossible  to  verify  the  dates,  the  account  is 
inserted  at  this  point  as  probably  referring  to  the  conference 
which  Morgan  says  he  expects  with  three  Seneca  chiefs ;  this 
meeting  must  have  taken  place  some  time  in  the  summer  of 
1776.  The  document  is  interesting  as  giving  an  Indian’s  recol¬ 
lections  of  the  sort  of  conferences  held  at  Fort  Pitt  during 
this  season.  The  spelling  and  phraseology  have  a  decided 
aboriginal  cast. — Ed. 

83  Blacksnake  was  a  Seneca  chieftain,  born  in  pre-Revolu- 
tionary  times,  but  still  living  in  1850,  when  Dr.  Draper  visited 
him  at  his  home  in  Cold  Spring,  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y. 
The  latter  secured  a  highly-interesting  and  valuable  interview 
with  the  aged  chieftain,  who  said  that  he  was  born  two  years 
before  Johnson  defeated  the  French  at  Fort  George  (1755), 
and  that  he  recollected  his  capture  of  Niagara  (1759),  as  well 
as  the  Devil’s  Hole  massacre  (1763).  He  was  appointed  war- 
chief  at  the  Oswego  treaty  (1777),  and  took  the  war-path 
against  Fort  Schuyler,  being  in  the  battle  of  Oriskany,  the 
raids  on  Wyoming,  Cherry  Valley,  Canajoharie,  Schoharie, 
etc.  In  1784,  Blacksnake  attended  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix, 
and  afterwards  visited  Congress  at  New  York  and  met  Wash¬ 
ington.  During  the  Indian  war  of  1790-95,  Blacksnake  kept 
neutral,  and  abided  by  the  treaty  of  Fort  Harmar  ( 1  78q)  , 
which  he  had  signed  under  another  name — Blacksnake  not 
being  his  customary  appelation  until  1812.  During  the  War 
of  1812-15,  he  assisted  the  Americans  against  the  British. — Ed. 


i6o 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


affairs,  at  that  times  my  Recollection  than  [then] 
was  •  good.  Especially  the  importand  Subject  and 
Views  of  the  many  Differance  Nations  and  tribes  of 
Indians  Residance  of  one  Body,  , 

In  the  month  of  April,  1763  [1775]  the  messenger 
from  Albany  arrived  at  avone,  to  Notify  to  our  chiefs 
to  attendans  to  a  convention  to  be  held  at  Pittsbough, 
for  the  purpose  for  communicating,  with  the  Six  Na¬ 
tions  of  Indians,  Concerning  of  the  Difficulties  Ex- 
sisted  Between  their  own  ,  Brother  great  Britain  and 
America.  Supose  in  order  to  understanding  Between 
Americans  and  the  Indians  &c. 

Cornplanter  and  Redjackett84  was  the  head  men 


84  Cornplanter  and  Red  Jacket  were  two  of  the  best  known 
Seneca  chiefs,  the  former  a  warrior  and  a  promoter  of  civili¬ 
zation,  the  latter  an  orator  and  an  advocate  of  old  Indian  cus¬ 
toms.  They  were,  therefore,  frequently  in  opposition,  al¬ 
though  in  the  early  period  of  their  lives  they  acted  in  con¬ 
cert. 

Cornplanter  (or  John  O’Bail)  was  a  half-breed,  son  of  an 
Irish  trader  and  a  Seneca  mother.  He  was  born  in  the  Seneca 
country  and  belonged  to  the  Wolf  clan.  In  the  Devil’s  Hole 
massacre  (1763),  Cornplanter  was  near  by  as  a  guard.  He 
finally  joined  the  British  cause,  was  made  war-chief  at  Os¬ 
wego  in  1777,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Oriskany  and  the 
raids  on  Cherry  Valley  and  Wyoming.  In  1779  he  com¬ 
manded  raiding  parties,  one  of  which  attacked  Fort  Freelands, 
while  the  other  was  defeated  at  Brady’s  Bend.  In  the  follow¬ 
ing  year,  he  captured  his  own  father  in  a  Canajoharie  raid, 
but  at  his  request  quickly  released  him.  Having  signed  the 
Fort  Stanwix  treaty  of  1784,  he  became  somewhat  unpopular 
with  his  tribe  and  visited  New  York  to  treat  for  an  under¬ 
standing  regarding  the  land  sales.  He  was  accorded  a  grant 
on  the  Allegheny  River,  seventeen  miles  above  Warren,  where 
he  established  a  farm,  built  a  saw-mill,  and  devoted  himself 
to  the  elevation  of  his  people,  particularly  preaching  abstinence 
from  intoxicating  liquors.  He  died  on  his  farm  in  1836. 

Red  Jacket  (or  Sagoyewatha — he  who  keeps  them  awake) 
was  born  near  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  about  1750.  His  first  participa¬ 
tion  in  public  affairs  occurred  in  the  Revolution,  where  he  op- 


Governor  Blacksnake 

Seneca  chief.  After  a  photograph  in  the  possession  of  the 

Wisconsin  Historical  Society 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  ot  ILLINOIS. 


BLACKSNAKE’S  NARRATIVE 


161 


among  the  Seneca  chiefs  and  other  Nations  of  Indians 
connected  with  the  Iroquois,  they  again  Called  the 
Second  time  to  be  held  a  council  for  to  appoint  Dele¬ 
gation  to  attend  the  convention  at  Pittsbough  and  to 
Re-consideration  on  the  important  Subject  all  the 
Six  Nations  and  other  Nations  which  is  not  included 
as  to  be  belonging  to  the  six  Nations  all  met,  at  avone 
a  long  house85  Redjacket  &  Cornplanter  Both  had 
considerable  influence  amongst  all  others  tribes  and 
they  concluded  themselve  it  would  be  Necessary  for 
them  to  attend  the  Pittsbough  Convention  according 
to  invitation  So  all  consented  of  the  Differant  Na¬ 
tions  to  Each  one  make  their  own  appointments  to 
Delegations  to  the  convention  to  be  held  at  Pittsbough 
Chiefs  and  Warriors,  and  I  was  particularly  invited 

posed  taking  the  hatchet  against  the  colonists.  He  was,  how¬ 
ever,  overruled  by  the  majority,  and  took  part  in  the  affairs  at 
Oriskany,  Wyoming,  Chemung,  and  Canajoharie.  He  was  said 
to  have  sent  messengers  to  Sullivan  requesting  peace  during 
the  latter’s  raid  (1779).  He  declined  to  attend  the  treaty  of 
1784,  but  afterwards  visited  Washington  and  was  presented 
with  a  medal,  which  now  belongs  to  the  Buffalo  Historical 
Society.  In  both  the  Indian  war  of  1790-95,  and  in  that  of 
1812-15,  he  sided  with  the  Americans.  In  his  latter  years, 
Red  Jacket  dwelt  near  Buffalo,  and  being  addicted  to  intem¬ 
perance  was  deposed  from  his  chieftainship  in  1827.  He  died 
three  years  later,  and  in  1884  bis  bones  were  re-interred  at 
Buffalo,  where  a  monument  has  since  been  reared  to  his  mem¬ 
ory. — Ed. 

85  The  village  which  Blacksnake  here  designates  as  Avone, 
was  usually  known  as  Canawaugus.  It  was  the  most  northerly 
of  the  Seneca  villages,  and  was  located  on  the  west  bank  of 
Genesee  River  in  Livingston  County,  Avon  township,  nearly 
opposite  the  sulphur  springs  of  Avon.  The  population  was  at 
one  time  estimated  at  almost  a  thousand,  probably  an  exag¬ 
geration.  Relics  of  the  council  house  could  be  seen  at  this 
place  as  late  as  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  although 
the  town  was  raided  by  Sullivan’s  men  in  1779. — Ed. 

11 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


162 


to  go  long  with  them,  this  is  the  Early  part  of  the 
Spring  the  year,  1763  [1775].  So  we  went  to  work 
to  make  preparations  to  Start  and  provides  that  who 
is  to  stay  at  home,  with  in  a  few  Days  was  already 
and  Several  chiefs  and  warriors  Started  from  Avone, 
and  take  westerly  Course  to  strik[e]  and  Came  into 
about  Eight  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Buffalo 
Creek  into  lake  Erie  and  we  travellerd  on  lake  Shore 
and  went  on  up  as  fars  Erie  village  in  Pennsylvania88 
was  then  But  a  few  house  this  village  one  or  two 
Stores  and  a  tavern  and  provision  stores  and  thence 
from  this  place  South  and  we  Came  into  a  stream 
above  now  called  midville87  and  thence  on  Down 
french  creek  empdies  to  Allegany  River,  So  on  Down 
this  stream  Several  Days  traval  before  we  Came  out 
to  the  mouth  of  this  creek,  there  was  But  three  or 
four  log  cabins  of  white  people  first  settlers  at  the 
mouth  of  this  creek88  there  we  made  a  stop  and  Camp 

86  Then  known  as  Presqu’isle;  see  ante ,  p.  151,  note  64. — Ed. 

87  Meadville,  Pa.,  not  then  established ;  Blacksnake  here 
speaks  from  later  knowledge.  The  site  of  Meadville  was  an 
early  fording-place  on  French  Creek,  and  there  are  traditions 
of  a  French  store-house  at  this  place,  but  not  a  permanent 
fort.  In  1788  it  was  explored  by  the  brothers  Mead,  and  a 
block-house  built,  the  nucleus  of  the  present  town. — Ed. 

88  The  site  of  Franklin,  at  the  junction  of  French  Creek 
with  Allegheny  River,  was  first  occupied  by  an  Indian  village 
wherein  was  built  a  trading-house  by  John  Frazer,  a  Pennsyl¬ 
vania  trader.  When  the  French  took  possession  of  the  coun¬ 
try  in  1753,  they  drove  out  Frazer,  and  raised  the  French  flag 
over  his  place,  as  reported  by  Washington  in  his  journal  of 
that  year.  The  following  spring  Fort  Machault  was  built,  and 
held  a  garrison  until  1759,  when  the  capture  of  Fort  Duquesne 
and  the  attack  on  Niagara  forced  the  French  to  destroy  their 
fort  and  retire.  The  next  year  (1760)  the  English  built  Fort 
Venango,  forty  rods  higher  up,  which  was  maintained  until  its 
complete  destruction  by  the  Seneca  in  Pontiac’s  conspiracy 
D763).  Fort  Venango  was  not  rebuilt  during  the  Revolution. 


Cornplanter 

Sfiawnee  chief.  Otherwise  known  as  Gyantwahchia,  John 
Abeel,  John  O’Bail,  and  John  the  Cornplarter.  After  a 
photograph  in  the  possession  of  the  Wisconsin  His¬ 
torical  Society 


:  v 


- 


LIBRARY 

»F  THE 

UNIVERS1TV  of  ILLINOIS. 


BLACKSNAKE’S  NARRATIVE 


163 


out  Near  this  Neighborhood  for  Several  Days,  for 
Building  Bark  Canoes  to  go  Down  the  River  with 
them  as  fars  Pittsbough  while  we  Stayed  at  this 
white  Neighborhood,  the  oldest  man  use  to  visit  us 
and  Bring  Bread  timber  for  us  to  Eat  and  we  use  to 
give  him  every  time  fresh  vension  we  get  Some  time 
five  or  Six  Deer  Every  Day,  while  we  Stayed  at  this 
place,  untill  we  got  our  Bark  Canoes  was  Built  suffi¬ 
cient  to  Carry  our  Number  Down  Stream  So  we 
Saile  on  Down  stream  on  the  Allegany  River,  this 
was  got  to  be  about  the  fall  the  year  1763  [1775]. 
So  we  made  stop  7  miles  from  Franklin  over  winter 
at  now  called  big  Sandy  Creek89  in  the  spring  1764 
[1776]  on  the  first  Day  on  Journy  from  Big  sandy, 
we  arrived  at  Pittsbough.  Several  white  men  Came 
to  See  us,  on  the  Same  afternoon -the  News  went  to 
the  Commissioners  Ears  that  we  are  Come,  and  he 
visit  it  us  that  Evening  and  he  made  induced  himself 
to  us,  for  acquaintance  Cornplanter  and  Redjackett 
Several  others  chiefs  of  the  Several  Differant  Nations 
of  Indians  proper  Delegates,  and  we  conversed  with 
the  Commissioner  and  he  told  us  the  object  holding 
a  meeting  and  he  wishes  to  have  it  opened  meeting 
on  the  Next  morning  immediately  after  Brackvest  and 
made  appointment  a  certain  ground  to  meet,  and  he 

The  cabins  of  which  Blacksnake  speaks  must  have  been  soon 
evacuated,  as  the  Indians  grew  hostile,  and  no  white  people 
lived  on  this  site  until  1787,  when  Capt.  Jonathan  Heart  built 
Fort  Franklin,  a  half  mile  up  French  Creek.  This  fort  was 
dismantled  in  1796,  but  a  garrison  was  maintained  until  1803 
on  the  site  of  the  town,  which  was  laid  out  in  1795. — Ed. 

89  This  stream,  flowing  through  Mercer  and  Venango  coun¬ 
ties,  comes  in  from  the  west,  about  eleven  miles  below  Frank¬ 
lin. — Ed. 


164 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Set  several  men  to  work  at  it  for  the  Seats  in  open 
f  [i]  eld,  the  Next  morning  after  Brackvest  and  called 
together,  uncle  cornplanter  give  the  Company  advice 
to  hold  one  minde  and  appoint  Redjackett  for  Speaker 
in  the  meeting  and  made  all  prepaired  on  our  part  and 
we  went  on  the  ground,  there  was  a  large  number 
asambled,  and  one  of  the  officers  give  us  a  seat  in  the 
mid  of  it.  the  Commissioner  appeared  and  Called  to 
order  he  first  Said  the  Commissioner  we  the  white 
people  has  been  long  Desirous  to  have  you  to  met  with 
us,  for  the  purpose  of  to  make  known  to  you,  Broth¬ 
ers,  we  considerated  necessary  for  us  to  let  you  Know 
and  to  make  you  acquainted  our  circumstances  and 
the  Difficulties  Existed  Between  America  and  the  King 
of  great  britain  the  great  Britain  government  use  us 
bad  and  the  American  people  endeavours  to  have  free¬ 
dom  to  Built  up  our  own  government  the  King  ordered 
his  armies  and  warriours  to*  fight  us,  we  are  therefore 
would  use  my  utmost  Endeavours  to  great  a  Number 
of  our  Red  Brethren  the  Six  Nations,  and  others  to 
not  Join  Either  Party  for  we  Determint  that  we  Shall 
have  freedom  and  independant  Nation  from  the  Brit¬ 
ish  government  if  posibly  can  and  let  us  fight  it  out 
our  liberty  for  we  will  laid  Down  our  lifes  for  our 
independence  and  freedom  and  we  feel  interst  and 
Desirious  in  your  wellfairs  that  you  would  continue 
hold  on  as  independent  Nations  of  your  people  and 
not  to  lift  it  your  hands  against  America  or  great 
Britain  because  he  and  me  alone  got  into  Difficulty 
and  wishes  you  to  Stand  notual  [neutral]  and  be  Peace 
to  all  your  White  Brethren  and  if  we  should  lost  our 
liberty,  than  we  always  be  under  the  great  Britain 


Red  Jacket 


Seneca  chief.  Indian  name,  Sagoyewatha.  After  a  litho¬ 
graph  in  the  possession  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical 
Society 


BLACKSNAKE’S  NARRATIVE 


165 


government  we  are  poor  the  King  is  Rich  But  God 
look  upon  us  if  we  are  a  Right  he  would  help  us  to 
again  our  liberty  and  we  are  outh  [ought]  to  look  to 
him  for  our  favours,  this  we  shall  Endeavour  to  Do, 
and  would  be  glad  of  your  advice  and  assistance  to 
Communicate  it,  the  Same  with  your  people  at  home, 
and  in  Broad  among  your  Red  Brethren,  this  object 
amost  important  to  have  all  understand  before  hand 
&c.  this  is  only  the  Substance  of  the  Commissioner 
Said  in  this  convention,  and  about  intermission  at  noon, 
in  the  afternoon  got  [tog]  ether  again  and  there  was 
more  people  assembled  as  it  was  fornoon,  before  this 
we  have  Consulted  the  manners  the  Commissioner  had 
use  to  his  advise,  then  the  commissioners  called  to 
order  and  Ready  to  Receive  the  answer 

Redjackett  given  answer 

Brothers  we  are  suppose  you  are  Ready  to  hear 
the  answer  we  will  make  of  you  We  are  Indians  and 
Citizens  of  this  Island  God  made  us  here  to  habited 
and  grewed  large  a  Number  and  give  us  all  we  Need 
it,  to  enjoyed,  and  we  have  Several  large  a  Number 
of  our  Red  Brethren,  and  Never  had  yet  wars  Diffi¬ 
culties,  to  any  worth  while  to  mention  our  maker  pro¬ 
tect  it  us  through  lives  and  provides  us  all  Collors 
of  his  children  are  under  heavens,  we  all  Now  give 
thank  to  God  who  guard  us  gether  together  this  Day, 
and  had  clean  Ears  to  hear  you  speaken  to  us  and  un¬ 
derstand  it  which  we  acknowledge  it  is  important  to 
hear  to  we  therefore  would  take  your  a  word  and 
advice  with  us  to  our  people  and  laid  the  subject  be¬ 
fore  them,  Because  we  are  not  authorize  or  power 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


1 66 

to  Completed  the  object,  therefore  would  leaved  it  to 
our  people,  the  Business  Shall  be  Done  by  majority 
of  them  Before  we  Should 'make  our  Determination 
To  upon  any  important  Business,  Although  all  in  our 
Number  that  are  here  agreed  to  use  all  the  influence 
over  our  people  at  home  to  go  into  this  effect  and  we 
Should  endeavour  to  Do  all  can  and  we  Shall  Send 
you  a  Delegation  to  carried  the  answer  which  our 
people  will  make,  Soon  after  passed  their  opinion  on 
the  subject 

Commissioner  Reported 

"Brothers  and  friends,  we  Desire  you  will  hear  and 
Receive  what  we  have  now  told  you,  and  that  will 
open  a  good  Ear  and  listen  to  what  are  now  been 
Said  to  you  this  is  a  family  quarrel  Between  us  and 
old  England,  you  Indians,  are  not  Concerned  in  it, 
we  don’t  wish  you  to  take  up  the  hatchet  [for]  the 
King’s  troops,  we  Desire  you  to  Remain  at  home, 
and  not  join  Either  Side :  But  keep  the  hatchet  buried 
Deep,  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  all  our  people,  we 
ask  and  Desire  you  to  love  peace  and  Maintain  it  and 
love  and  Sympathize  with  us  in  our  troubles  that  the 
path  may  be  Kept  open  with  all  our  people  and  yours 
to  pass  and  Repass  without  molestation,  Brothers  we 
live  on  the  same  ground  with  you,  the  Same  Island 
is  our  common  birthplace  we  Desire  to  sit  Down 
under  the  Same  tree  of  peace  with* you,  &c.  &c.  this 
is  all  I  have  to  Say,  To  a  wanted  what  I  have  said 
before  noon  and  I  feel  satisfied  what  you  have  Said 
in  answer  you  made,  &c.  and  wish  you  this  afternoon 
to  take  a  walk  with  me  and  visited  to  a  new  garrison. 


DEFENSE  OF  FINCASTLE 


167 

So  we  all  went  with  him,  there  was  only  a  few 
Regular  warriors  in  garrison  and  a  few  pieces  of 
cannons  and  Balls  for  them  the  United  Commissioner 
ordered  us  to  go  to  provision  Store  to  get  what  we 
wanted  while  Stayed  in  the  place.  Near  at  Night 
Returned  to  our  Camp  at  the  mouth  of  monongahella 
and  the  Next  morning  we  made  preparation  to  Start 
for  home  about  at  noon  we  got  Ready  to  Start,  Some 
of  our  Bark  canoes  we  away.  3  canoes  we  Kept  for 
to  Keep  our  provision  in  as  we  came  up  the  River 
and  Some  of  us  Come  on  foot  and  Some  pushing  up 
our  canoes  up  stream,  we  came  on  about  10  miles 
that  Day,  and  we  Kept  a  going  Every  Day  and  Came 
the  month  of  June  1764  [1776]  at  avone  on  Genesee 
River 


DEFENSE  OF  FINCASTLE  COUNTY 

[President  Edmund  Pendleton  to  Col.  William  Fleming. 

1U19  —  L.  S.] 

Williamsburg  June  20th.  1776. 

Sir — Pursuant  to  the  Resolution  of  the  General 
Convention,  you  are  to  direct  the  March  of  one  Corm 
pany  of  your  militia,  with  the  proper  officers  without 
delay  to  the  County  of  Fincastle,  there  to  be  em¬ 
ployed  as  a  Ranging  Company  for  the  defence  &  pro¬ 
tection  of  the  Inhabitants,  they  are  to  carry  with  them 
Ammunition  and  Provisions  Sufficient  to  last  them  to 
the  place  of  Rendezvous,  appointed  by  Colonel  William 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


1 68 

Russell,  who  is  to  command  the  whole.  For  and  by 
order  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  I  am,  Sir 

Your  obedt  hble  Servant 
EDWd  Pendleton  P  [resident] 90 
County  Lieut :  or  Commd  Officer  of  the  Militia  of  Botetourt. 


[Col.  William  Fleming  to  Capt.  William  McClenechan. 

1U21  —  A.  L.  S.] 


Botetourt  County 

Sir — Agreeable  to  the  Resolve  of  Convention  and 
in  consequence  of  Orders  Received  from  the  Honoura¬ 
ble  President  to  me  directed,  as  County  Lieu1  of  Bote¬ 
tourt  ordering  one  of  the  Militia  Companies  of  this 
County  properly  Officered  to  March  immediately  to 
Fincastle  County  to  be  imployed  as  Rangers  under 
the  direction  and  Command  of  Col0  Wm  Russell. 
You  are  therefore  to  March  immediately  with  the  first 
and  Second  Devisions  of  your  own  Company  or  Vol¬ 
unteers  equivalent.  You  are  to  be  Joined  by  draughts 
from  Cap1  Armstrongs,  Cap1  Lockhearts  Cap1  Crockets 
&  Cap1  Robinsons91  Companies  to  form  Your  Com¬ 
mand  to  Fifty  Rank  and  file  exclusive  of  Sergls  & 
Drummer  You  are  to  march  with  all  Expedition  to 
Fincastle  County  and  Join  the  Troops  at  the  General 
Rendezvuse  Appointed  by  Col0  Russell  on  Holston 

90  Edmund  Pendleton  was  a  prominent  Virginia  statesman 
(1721-1803),  president  both  of  the  convention  of  1776  and  of 
the  Virginia  committee  of  safety.  As  such  he  was  chief 
executive  officer  of  the  state  until  the  election  of  Patrick 
Henry,  first  governor,  in  July,  1776. — Ed. 

91  For  the  captains  of  the  Botetourt  militia  in  1774,  see  Dun- 
more’s  War ,  pp.  44,  45. — Ed. 


DEFENSE  OF  FINCASTLE 


169 


You  are  to  take  what  provisions  will  Serve  Your  Com¬ 
pany  to  Cap1  Madisons  on  New  River92  who  will  Sup¬ 
ply  You  with  what  is  Necessary  for  your  further 
March.  You  will  take  care  to  keep  your  Men  Orderly 
on  the  March  and  for  their  own  Credit  I  expect  they 
will  behave  in  a  Soldierly  Manner  by  keeping  sober, 
being  Alert  on  Duty  and  paying  a  proper  Obedience 
to  all  Necessary  Commands  of  their  Officers  I  hope 
you  will  be  in  Readiness  to  March  from  the  Lick  on 
Monday  Next  with  the  draughts  of  your  own  &  the 
Companies  below  you  the  Men  of  Cap1  Crocketts  & 
Robinsons  Companies  are  to  Join  you  at  Mr  Kents. 
I  am  Sir  Your  most  Hble  Serv1 

William  Fleming  C:  L1 

July  16  1776 

To  Capt  William  McClennachan  93 


[Capt.  William  McClenechan  to  Col.  William  Fleming. 

3ZZ23  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Hands  Meadows  July  24:  1776 
Sir — I  this  day  Marched  to  the  above  place  with¬ 
out  the  Least  difficulty  My  Men  all  in  high  spirits ; 
but  am  greatly  disappointed  in  Regard  to  the  draughts 
of  Capt.  Crocketts  and  Capt.  Robinsons  companys - - 


92  For  Capt.  Thomas  Madison,  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  59, 
note  99. — Ed. 

93  Capt.  William  McClenechan  (McClanahan)  was  born  in 
Ireland  in  1733.  He  came  to  Botetourt  County  (now  part  of 
Roanoke)  from  North  Carolina,  and  settled  on  an  upper 
branch  of  the  Roanoke,  southeast  of  the  present  Salem.  He 
died  in  1819.  Big  Lick  lay  about  two  miles  north  of  his  place, 
and  was  the  point  of  departure  mentioned  by  Fleming. — Ed. 


170 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


the  former  five,  and  the  Latter  only  four :  I  have  seven¬ 
teen  in  my  own  including  a  serjant.  Capt.  Lockharts 
draught  nine  including  a  serjant  from  the  same  Capt. 
armstrongs  are  nine  men  amounting  to  forty  one  pri¬ 
vates  and  tho  My  Company  is  not  Compleat  thought 
it  proper  to  march  with  all  Expedition  and  hope  my 
intentions  will  meet  with  your  approbation. 

I  am  informed  this  day  by  Capt  John  Bowman94  of 
a  battle  fought  on  holston  within  four  miles  of  the 
Big  Island  between  a  party  of  Indians  amounting  to 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  a  party  of  our  men 
the  savages  had  on  their  side  killed  on  the  field  four¬ 
teen  and  our  Loss  is  only  four  wounded  the  above 
battle  was  fought  on  the  twentieth  of  this  Instant95 
for  further  particulars  Refer  you  to  Capt  Bowman  and 
am  sir 

Yours 

Wm  McClenechan 


94  John  Bowman  was  born  (1738)  in  Frederick  County,  Vir¬ 
ginia,  son  of  George  Bowman,  whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
the  earliest  settler  of  that  region,  Joist  Hite.  John  visited 
Kentucky  in  1775,  and  in  the  summer  of  1776  was  at  Har- 

*  rodsburgh,  where  he  served  as  one  of  the  committee  of  safety 
(June  15-20).  He  must  have  been  on  his  return  trip  at  the 
time  this  letter  was  written.  In  the  autumn  of  this  vear 

m/ 

(1776)  Bowman  was  chosen  colonel  of  Kentucky  militia,  and 
led  thither  a  company  for  the  defense  of  the  country,  arriving 
in  August,  1777.  In  1779  he  led  an  expedition  into  the  Miami 
country,  which,  however,  accomplished  little  beyond  devasta¬ 
tion  of  Indian  crops.  In  1781  Bowman  became  sheriff,  and 
county-lieutenant  of  the  newly-erected  Lincoln  County.  He 
died  at  his  home  in  that  county,  May  4,  1784. — Ed. 

95  This  is  an  accurate  contemporary  account  of  a  battle  fam¬ 
ous  in  Western  annals,  known  usually  as  that  of  Big  (or 
Long)  Island  on  Holston.  For  the  official  report  see  Amer. 
Archives ,  5th  series,  i,  p.  464;  see  also  Roosevelt,  Winning  of 
the  West  (New  York,  1889),  h  PP-  286-290. — Ed. 


SIX  NATIONS  NEUTRAL 


171 


REPORT  FROM  NIAGARA;  NEUTRALITY  TO  BE 

MAINTAINED 

[Summary  of  printed  documents  in  Amer.  Archives,  5th  series, 

h  PP-  36,  37-] 

A  conference  was  held  at  Fort  Pitt,  July  6,  1776, 
upon  the  return  of  Guyashusta  (Kiasola)  from  Ni¬ 
agara.  Several  Delawares  and  Shawnee  were  pres¬ 
ent  as  well  as  Capt.  John  Neville  and  his  officers, 
Major  Trent,96  Major  Ward,97  and  several  other  in¬ 
habitants.  Guyashusta  reported  that  on  his  way  to 
Niagara  he  was  stopped  at  Caughnawaga98  for  nearly 

96  Major  William  Trent  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  about 
1715.  He  was  in  the  Pennsylvania  service  in  King  George’s 
War  (1744-48),  and  as  early  as  1749  was  employed  as  a  con¬ 
fidential  Indian  agent.  In  1752  he  formed  a  fur-trading  part¬ 
nership  with  George  Croghan,  and  two  years  later  acted  as 
Virginia  commissioner  at  the  treaty  at  Logstown,  thereafter 
visiting  the  Miami  tribe  to  confirm  the  treaty.  In  1754  he 
was  commissioned  to  raise  a  company  and  take  possession  of 
the  forks  of  the  Ohio,  whence  he  was  driven  by  the  French. 
Trent  accompanied  Forbes’s  expedition  in  1758,  and  the  fol¬ 
lowing  year  was  in  the  Indian  service  under  Sir  William 
Johnson.  As  a  trader  he  lost  heavily  during  Pontiac’s  con¬ 
spiracy,  but  was  re-imbursed  at  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix 
(1768).  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  adhered  to  the 
patriots’  cause,  and  was  'commissioned  major,  but  died  in 
Cumberland  County  in  1778. — Ed. 

97  Edward  Ward  was  closely  associated  with  Trent  and 
Croghan,  being  a  half-brother  of  the  latter.  While  ensign 
(1754),  he  surrendered  the  forks  of  the  Ohio  to  the  French. 
In  1756-57  he  served  as  lieutenant,  and  the  two  following 
years  as  captain  of  the  1st  Pennsylvania  battalion,  taking  part 
in  Forbes’s  campaign.  After  the  war  he  was  Indian  agent  for 
several  years,  making  headquarters  near  Pittsburgh,  where 
he  had  business  interests.  In  1774  he  was  justice  of  the  peace 
and  in  1775  a  member  of  the  committee  of  safety  for  West 
Augusta.  In  1776-81  he  served  as  a  magistrate  of  Yohogania 
County,  living  opposite  Pittsburgh  as  late  as  1787. — Ed. 

98  Caughnawaga  was  a  prominent  Mohawk  Indian  village 
located  northwest  of  Fonda,  in  Montgomery  County,  New 
York.  It  was  the  site  of  the  martyrdom  of  Father  Jogues  in 


172 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


a  month,  by  messengers  from  Col.  John  Butler,  who 
wished  him  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  Detroit  Indians* 
After  reaching  Niagara  the  Seneca  chieftain  was  told 
that  the  conference  was  finished,  but  having  insisted 
upon  speaking  with  the  British  commandant,  he  in¬ 
formed  him  that  the  Six  Nations  were  determined  to 
take  no  part  in  the  war  between  Great  Britain  and 
America.  He  likewise  informed  the  officers  at  Fort 
Pitt  that  the  Six  Nations  had  intrusted  him  with  the 
care  of  their  territory  in  that  region,  and  that  they 
would  not  suffer  either  a  British  or  American  army  to 
be  marched  through  their  lands,  and  desired  that  no 
expedition  against  Detroit  be  undertaken.  Captain 
Neville  thereupon  assured  the  Seneca  that  the  Ameri¬ 
cans  would  not  attempt  to  march  an  army  through 
his  country,  without  acquainting  him  thereof,  unless 
they  should  hear  of  a  British  army  advancing  against 
them. 


FRONTIERS  OF  VIRGINIA 

[Col.  William  Preston  to  the  President  of  the  Committee  of 

Safety.  4QQ64  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Fincastle  Augt.  2d.  1776 

Sir — I  am  favoured  with  your  Letters  of  the  25th 
and  26th  of  July  covering  an  Order  of  Council  ire- 


the  seventeenth  century,  and  was  destroyed  by  the  French 
Governor  Tracy  in  his  invasion  of  the  Mohawk  country  in 
1 666.  By  the  time  of  the  Revolution  all  the  region  north  of 
the  river  was  known  as  Caughnawaga,  and  Dutch  settlers  had 
largely  invaded  the  territory.  In  the  raid  of  1780  the  Dutch 
settlement  of  Caughnawaga  was  burned.  This  Mohawk  Val¬ 
ley  town  should  not  be  confused  with  the  Indian  mission  of 
that  name  in  Canada. — Ed. 


FRONTIERS  OF  VIRGINIA 


1 73 


quiring  me  to  Order  a  Lieutenants  Command  to  the 
Lead  Mines  and  to  have  a  stockade  fort  erect [ed] 
there.  I  would  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  Col0 
Russell,  fully  sensible  of  the  Importance  of  that  Place, 
on  his  first  coming  up,  and  on  hearing  of  the  Approach 
of  the  Enemy,  ordered  a  Lieutenant  and  thirty  Men 
to  the  Mines ;  and  on  his  finding  the  nearer  Approach 
of  the  Savages  in  large  Bodies ;  and  having  intelli¬ 
gence  from  the  Traders  who  Escaped  from  the  Indian 
Towns  that  they  intended  to  attack  that  Place,"  he 
wrote  to  me  to  Order  a  Captain  there  and  Augment 
the  Party.  Thi^  I  immediately  complied  with ;  but 
before  the  Captain  got  [to]  the  Place  a  Comp7 
of  the  Bedford  Militia,  who  had  been  called  out 
had  taken  Post  there  and  do  now  Garrison  the 
Fort  which  was  built  round  the  Works  by  the 
Militia,  the  Country  People  &  Chiefly  by  Col0  Colla- 
ways* 1  People  There  is  now  a  Sufficent  Party  to 
guard  the  Works  and  cover  the  Workmen  when  out. 
The  Party  of  Fincastle  Militia  that  had  been  there  I 
ordered  out  to  the  relief  of  the  Inhabitants  on  Hols- 
ton.  The  greatest  part  of  the  Way  from  Wattawgo 
to  the  Mines  is  Mountainous  &  uninhabited,  so  that  a 
large  Party  of  the  Enemy  might  easily  get  in  by  that 
Route.  Therefore  it  was  Judged  that  a  full  Company 
was  but  barely  Sufficent  to  guard  that  Place.2 


99  This  refers  to  the  Cherokee  Indian  outbreak. — Ed. 

1  This  was  Col.  James  Callaway,  son  of  William,  who  was 
active  in  the  defense  of  the  frontier  during  the  French  and 
Indian  War.  James  was  a  resident  of  Bedford  County,  ap¬ 
pointed  by  the  state  to  superintend  the  lead  mines  and  secure 
their  product  for  the  government. — Ed. 

2  The  omissions  relate  to  the  news  from  the  Southwest,  and 
preparation  for  the  Cherokee  expedition. — Ed. 


174 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


The  only  thing  that  can  retard  the  raising  of  Men 
in  this  &  Botetourt ;  is  a  general  Apprehension 
amongst  the  People  that  the  Shawnesse  Delawares  &c 
will  surely  break  out.  Could  there  be  any  assurance 
that  these  Nations  would  not  strike  this  Season  I  be¬ 
lieve  a  great  Body  of  Militia  could  be  raised  in  these 
Counties  for  this  Service.  But  be  that  as  it  will,  I 
have  no  doubt  of  raising  the  Number  required. 

-J  - 

Be  assured  Sir  that  nothing  in  my  Power  Shall  be 
wanting  to  forward  this  very  Necessary  Service;  and 
that  I  shall  with  Cheerfulness  comply  with  every  Or¬ 
der  I  receive  from  your  Honble  Board. 

I  am  your  Honours  most  Obed.  &  very  hble  serv* 

Wm  Preston 


[Col.  William  Fleming  to  Col.  William  Preston.  4QQ65  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Dr  Sir — Mr  May* 3  did  not  return  from  Bedford 
till  Tuesday,  on  Wednesday  &  Thursday  I  was  abroad, 
prevented  me  writing  you  sooner.  Mr  Lynch4  had 
no  powder  but  promises  to  be  in  your  County  directly, 
where  he  expects  to  make  50lbs  a  daye.  Henry  Paul¬ 
ing5  was  here  this  Morning,  immediately  from  Your 
County,  and  as  he  brings  nothing  new,  I  am  in  hopes 


8  For  a  sketch  of  this  pioneer  see  Dunmore’s  War ,  p.  21, 

note  34. — Ed. 

4  Charles  Lynch  of  Bedford  County,  who  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Virginia  convention  of  May-July,  1776,  and  appointed  by 
that  body  to  prepare  gunpowder  for  government  use. — Ed. 

c  For  a  brief  biographic  sketch  of  Pauling  see  Dunmore' s 
War,  p.  187,  note  33. — Ed. 


FRONTIERS  OF  VIRGINIA 


i7  5 

the  first  fire  of  the  Indians  is  extinguished  &  that  the 
Checks  they  have  met  with  will  be  Attended  with  the 
good  effect  of  hurrying  them  home.  What  we  can  do 
in  case  of  an  Attack  in  Botetourt  for  want  of  Powder 
I  really  know  not,  as  only  100wt  of  what  was  sent  us, 

is  good  for  any  thing  -  and  of  that  I  spared  as 

much  as  I  possibly  could  to  the  Men  for  your  County. 
Pauling  informs  me,  You  have  now  a  sufficiency  of 
Men,  &  that  he  heard  no  complaint  for  Powder.  My 
Dr  Sir  no  commands  of  Yours,  nor  anything  in  my 
power  for  the  preservation  of  your  County  shall  ever 
be  deemed  a  trouble.  By  the  Presedts  of  July  25th 
I  am  ordered  to  raise  150  men  out  of  this  County  to 
Assist  in  an  Expedition  against  the  Cherokees.  they 
are  to  march  to  the  big  Hand  on  Holston  River,  then 
to  be  under  the  Comd  of  U  Co1  Russel  till  an  Officer 
can  be  appointed  to  command  the  whole  Force  intended 
for  that  expedition.  On  Monday  Next  I  meet  the 
Field  officers  to  proceed  to  the  Appointment  of  Offi¬ 
cers  for  the  Above  purposes.  I  understand  50  men 
are  ordered  from  Augusta  &  some  considerable  num¬ 
ber  from  below.  It  is  reported  by  Letter  from  Point 
Pleasant  that  two  prisoners  have  been  delivered  up  at 
Pitsburg  lately  taken  by  a  party  of  Mingoes.  and  that 
the  Shawnise  sent  them  up.  I  imagine  they  must 
have  been  taken  on  the  Kentucke.6  Capt  Arbuckles 

6  These  were  twin  sons  of  Andrew  McConnell,  who  after¬ 
wards  fell  at  Blue  Licks  (1782).  The  father  was  a  Pennsyl¬ 
vanian  who  had  lived  for  some  five  years  in  Westmoreland 
County.  In  1775  he  planted  corn  and  Built  a  cabin  at  Lee’s 
Station,  and  the  next  winter  sent  for  his  family.  Some  time 
in  June,  1776,  Mrs.  McConnell  sent  a  bound  boy  and  her  two 
sons,  Adam  Baxter  and  William  Barber,  to  bring  up  the  cows 


176 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Officers  &  Men  will  proceed  very  soon  to  the  Point. 
As  to  the  Expedition  I  can  say  nothing  being  a 
Stranger  to  the  Plan.  I  am  well  convinced  that  carry¬ 
ing  the  War  into  the  Nation,  is  the  only  way  to  se¬ 
cure  our  Frontiers  and  make  us  respected,  but  I  wish 
it  may  be  conducted  on  such  a  Plan  that  we  may  not 
depend  too  much  on  the  Efforts  of  Carolina,  but  be 
enabled  to  Act  independent  of  them.  I  had  an  Op¬ 
portunity  of  lately  seeing  Our  Acquaintance  from  the 
Westward,  he  is  unhappy  in  having  any  Misunder¬ 
standing  between  him  &  you,  and  sincerely  desires  a 
reconciliation.  Some  little  inadvertencies,  I  hope  he 
will  clear  up,  if  he  has  not  already  which  may  restore 
that  harmony  which  formerly  existed.  It  is  a  misfor¬ 
tune  to  square  our  actions  alone,  from  even  the  Vati¬ 
can  liberary.  He  knows  not  that  I  ever  designed  to 
mention  anything  to  you.  I  am  Dr  Sir  sincerely 
Your  Friend.  And 

Most  hble  Serv1 
WiLLm  Fleming 

Augt  2d.  76 


to  be  milked.  The  skulking  Mingo  party  killed  the  bound 
boy  and  captured  one  twin,  while  the  other  hid.  At  the  sight 
of  his  brother’s  distress,  the  lad  gave  himself  up.  When  the 
boys  reached  the  Shawnee  towns  with  their  captors,  they  were 
recognized  by  Joseph  Nicholson  'see  his  mission,  post),  who 
knew  their  father.  He  purchased  the  lads  for  a  rifle,  and 
they  returned  to  Pittsburgh  under  the  care  of  Col.  George 
Morgan,  who  sent  them  to  their  uncle  William  McConnell, 
then  in  Westmoreland  County.  The  boys  were  in  captivity 
about  sixty  days.  The  above  information  was  secured  from 
their  sister,  Mrs.  Ezekiel  January,  and  is  in  Draper  MSS.,  11 
CC.  See  also  Pennsylvania  Packet ,  Aug.  20,  1776,  post. — Ed. 


FRONTIERS  OF  VIRGINIA 


1 77 


[Capt.  John  Stuart  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  3ZZ1— 

A.  L.  S.] 

Greenbrier  August  2d  1776 

Sr. — I  have  this  Morning  heard  that  Cap1  Van- 
biber7 * * * * 12  hath  yesterday  Recd.  Notice  there  is  a  Large 
Number  of  Indians  Discovered  makeing  for  our 
frontiers,  this  news  hath  been  handed  to  me  from 
Vanbiber  by  Report  from  hand  to  hand  that  makes  it 
out  of  my  power  to  give  a  perfect  account  of  the 
Truth  of  it,  but  as  there  is  a  great  probability  there 
is  two  Much  Certainty  in  it  I  thought  as  our  people 
is  in  a  Defenceless  Situation  it  was  Necessary  to 
give  you  this  Notice,  we  are  at  a  great  loss  for 
men  as  well  as  amunition  to  such  a  Degree  that  with¬ 
out  Some  Immediate  Relife  (of  Boath  should  this 
Report  be  True  I  am  persuaded  our  Country  will  be 
Soon  Layd  Waste.  I  hope  you’l  think  proper  to 
Order  so  many  of  Militia  to  our  Assistance  as  you*l 
think  Sufficent  I  thing  [think]  there  ought  to  be 

7  John  and  Peter  Van  Bibber  were  of  Holland  ancestry  and 
removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Maryland,  finally  settling 

(about  1771)  in  the  Greenbrier  region  of  Botetourt  County. 
John  made  an  early  exploration  of  Kentucky,  passing  down  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans.  In  1773  he  was  one  of 
a  small  party  of  surveyors  who  explored  the  Great  Kanawha, 
and  left  his  name  on  a  cliff  below  the  falls,  still  known  as 
“Van  Bibber’s  rock”  Both  brothers  took  part  in  the  Point 

Pleasant  campaign  (1774),  where  a  third  brother,  Isaac,  was 
killed.  After  this,  both  served  as  captains  in  the  militia. 

Peter  had  a  block-house  on  Wolf  Creek,  which  was  an  im¬ 
portant  frontier  outpost.  About  1781,  the  two  brothers  moved 

into  the  Kanawha  Valley,  and  Peter  died  at  Point  Pleasant 
in  1796;  John  in  1821.  Peter’s  sons  Matthias  and  Jacob  were 
noted  in  later  border  warfare,  and  his  daughter  married  a  son 
of  Daniel  Boone.  The  reference  here  may  be  to  either  of  the 
brothers,  John  or  Peter. — Ed. 

12 


i7« 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


three  Companys  Made  up  at  least  for  this  frontier 
that  is  one  on  Indian  Creek  on  Muddy  Creek  and  in 
the  Leavels8 9  under  such  proper  officers  as  you  Shall 
think  fit  to  appoint  to  the  Command  of  them,  may 
be  a  means  of  saving  many  from  Distruction.  I  shall 
in  the  mean  Time  do  Every  thing  in  my  power  to¬ 
wards  puting  ourselves  in  a  poisture  of  Diffence 
untill  I  have  an  Answer  from  you,  &  I  am  Much 
affreid  our  people  being  Divided  into  so  many  small 
Companys  which  consist  Chiefly  of  marryed  men  &C 
(the  Best  of  our  young  men  being  Taken  by  Capt 
Arbuckle)  will  now  make  the  Turn  Difficult  for  us 
to  Embody  to  make  a  good  Defence,  and  should  our 
people  pen  themselves  in  little  Forts  as  formerly 
they  did  it  will  be  the  Readyest  method  of  having 
themselves  Distroyed.  N[e]ither  do  I  know  there  is 
any  method  of  preventing  them  from  doing  so,  un¬ 
less  you'  should  order  the  Officers  of  the  Militia 
to  Draught  a  party  out  of  Each  C°.  to  make  one 
proper  fortification  for  the  Deffence  of  the  whole, 
that  is  in  Different  Quarters.  I  have  here  100ls.  of 
powder  which  was  Ordered  to  the  point  half  of  which 
I  shall  Detain  untill  I  hear  from  you  as  I  understand 
Cap1  Arbuckle  is  well  Supplyed.  I  hope  you’l  do 
what  you  think  Best  with  all  Expedition.  I  am,  Sr. 
your  Ob.  Humbe  Serv1. 

John  Stewart® 

On  the  Publick  Service 

To  Col°.  William  Fleming  Botetourt. 

8  For  these  locations  see  Dunmore's  War ,  pp.  181,  319,  notes 
25,  37.  Indian  Creek  was  an  affluent  of  New  River,  where 
was  a  ford  used  by  Indian  parties. — Ed. 

9  For  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  Stuart,  see  Dunmore’s 
War ,  p.  104,  note  51. — Ed. 


FRONTIERS  OF  VIRGINIA 


179 


[Col.  William  Fleming  to  Capt.  John  Stuart.  3ZZ1  —  Draft 

in  Fleming’s  handwriting.] 

Sir — Yours  by  Wm.  Huggen  I  have  Just  received 
I  perceive  that  mine  has  not  reached  you.  I  think 
it  highly  Necessary  that  the  Inhabitants  should  have 
places  of  defence  prepaired  to  which  they  may  retire 
in  case  of  Necessity  And  these  Forts  placed  as  cen- 
trual  as  conveniences  will  Allow,  for  which  purpose 
I  would  have  you  fix  with  the  Approbation  of  the 
other  officers  of  the  Compy.  on  some  place  the  most 
suitable  to  the  People  who  may  be  supposed  to  take 
Shelter  there  and  build  a  Fort.  You  are  therefor 
to  take  what  part  of  your  own  Compy.  &  Cap1  Browns 
is  necessary  &  effect  it  as  soon  as  possible.  I  am  apt 
to  think  that  the  Indians  discovered  on  Walkers 
Creek10  making  this  way,  may  be  a  party  of  the 
Western  Tribes  on  their  way  home  from  the  Chero¬ 
kee  Nation,  that  Jerrit  Williams  gave  information, 
of  being  there.11  However  the  above  step  will  Al- 


10  For  Walker’s  Creek,  see  Ibid.,  p.  56,  note  96. 

11  Jarret  Williams  was  an  Indian  trader,  also  an  inhabitant 
of  the  Watauga  settlement  before  1773.  In  Dunmore’s  War 
he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Evan  Shelby’s  company,  and  at  its  close 
resumed  his  trade  with  the  Cherokee.  In  June,  1776,  he  es¬ 
caped  from  their  towns,  and  brought  word  to  the  frontier  set¬ 
tlements  of  the  invasion  which  the  Cherokee  were  preparing. 
His  testimony  is  published  in  J.  G.  M.  Ramsey,  Annals  of 
Tennessee  (Philadelphia,  1853),  pp.  148,  149.  He  therein  says 
that  fifteen  of  the  Northern  Indians  were  at  the  Cherokee 
towns  with  a  war-belt,  and  a  party  went  out  to  strike  the  set¬ 
tlers  in  Kentucky.  This  is  the  party  which  Fleming  suggests 
may  have  caused  the  alarm  on  Greenbrier.  Williams  was 
reimbursed  by  the  North  Carolina  legislature  for  his  losses  by 
the  Cherokee  War,  to  the  amount  of  £100.  He  went  out  in 
1778  as  lieutenant  of  Clark’s  Illinois  regiment,  and  received 


i8o 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


lay  the  Apprehensions  of  the  Inhabitants.  I  shall  be 
expeditions  in  sending  you  Assistance  I  propose 
sending  out  a  Sufficient  Number  to  repell  them  in 
case  of  an  Invasion.  You  are  to  have  your  CompE 
prepaired  in  the  best  manner  you  can  for  defence. 
And  if  the  Enemy  penetrates  into  the  County  take 
what  Number  you  think  proper  of  them,  and  call  in 
the  neighboring  Capts  to  your  Assistance  and  on  a 
Junction  proceed  in  Quest  of  the  Enemy  Tomorrow 
I  meet  the  Field  Officers,  when,  what  is  further  neces¬ 
sary  will  be  concluded  on.  I  shall  take  every 
Method  in  my  power  to  get  a  supply  of  Powder. 
And  expected  before  this  that  Cap1  Vanbiber  would 
have  brought  in  300w.  If  he  or  any  other  Powder 
Maker  has  any,  I  wish  it  would  be  procured.  I  have 
wrote  to  the  President  to  get  what  was  sent  in  from 
Wmsb§’  exchanged  for  other  that  is  good.  Please  tc 
send  Coppies  of  the  Inclosed  to  your  Neighboring 
Capts.  I  think  it  proper  to  have  an  Eye  on  the  foard- 
ings  of  New  River,  and  if  a  few  smart  men  were 
sent  out  to  watch  them  from  Culbertsons  down  to  the 
Warrior's  foarding  it  may  be  Necessary12  In  other 
things  that  do  not  occur  Act  as  prudence  will  derect 
you, — till  you  receive  further  Orders  &c. 

W.  F. 

Augt  4,  1 776. 

To  The  Militia  Officers  on  Green  Brier— 
As  we  have  the  greatest  reason  to  Apprehend  an 

his  share  of  the  Illinois  grant.  He  settled  on  Floyd’s  fork  of 
Salt  River,  in  Bullitt  County,  Kentucky,  and  passed  there  the 
remainder  of  his  life. — Ed. 

12  For  Culbertson’s,  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  76,  note  25. 
For  the  Warrior’s  Ford,  see  Ibid ,  p.  322,  note  40. — Ed. 


FRONTIERS  OF  VIRGINIA  181 

Attack  on  Our  Frontiers,  You  are  therefore  to  have 
your  Respective  Companies  in  the  best  order  possible 
for  Defence  And  on  any  sudden  immergency  You  are 
to  make  a  Junction  with  Capk  Stewart  with  all  the  Men 
you  can  conveniently  March  to  go  in  Quest  of  &  re- 
pell  the  Enemy.  In  case  of  Necessity  a  Field  Officer 
will  be  on  the  Spot  to  regulate  the  Opperations.  You 
are  desired  to  send  me  immediate  Notice  on  Your  dis¬ 
covering  the  Enemy  or  of  Murder  or  Mischief  being 
done. 

F. 


[Capt.  John  Stuart  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  3ZZ2,  3 — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Greenbryer  Augk  10th.  1776 

Sir — Agreeable  to  your  orders  pr.  Wm  Huggans,  I 
have  Draught’d  Ten  men  from  Cap13.  Browns  C°.  & 
Ten  from  my  Own,  with  which  I  expect  to  have  a 
fort  soon  compleated  at  Camp  Union,  large  enought 
to  Contain  the  greatest  part  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
these  leavels,  the  men  I  shall  continue  in  the  Fort  for 
Immediate  protection  untill  you  shall  think  fit  to  Dis¬ 
band  them,  and  should  you  send  out  any  more  men 
for  our  assistance  In  case  of  an  Invation,  should  b« 
glad  thirty  would  be  sent  to  Join  the  above  Number 
to  compleat  the  company,  Twenty  five  of  which  I 
shall  send  under  the  command  of  a  Lieutenant  to 
Keep  Cap1.  Arbuckles  old  fort  on  Muddy  creek,  & 
alay  the  timidity  of  the  people  of  that  quarter.  I 
should  think  another  Lieutenants  C°.  on  Indian  creek 
&  one  more  further  up  the  Country  would  not  be 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


182 

amiss,  with  which  number  the  fears  of  the  'people 
would  be  wholely  assuaged  &  to  which  our  own 
strength  of  militia  could  be  readily  Join’d,  to  Repel 
any  considerable  number  of  the  enemy  that  may  come. 
I  am  from  the  Report  brought  lately  by  some  of  Cap1. 
Arbucles  men  from  the  point  much  of  oppinion  we 
Shall  be  visited 'soon  by  our  old  neighbors,  for  whose 
Reception  should  they  please  to  keep  away  a  little 
while  we  will  be  middleing  well  prepared.  Cap1  Sam1. 
Brown  hath  undertaken  to  furnish  the  above  men,  & 
any  other,  that  ' may  come  on  this  Quarter  with  pro¬ 
visions,  a  proper  account  of  he  will  keep,  &  dispose 
of  the  fith  [sic]  quarters  &c  of  ' Beef  which  will  still 
save  some  expense  &  can  be  done  with  [MS.  torn] 
than  otherwise  for  which  Trouble  I  expect  he  will 
be  Allowed.  I  have  sent  out  Jacob  Lockhart13  & 
Josiah  McDowell  to  watch  the  pass  from  below  the 
Little  Meadow  River  to  the  warior  fording,  &  Ge°. 
Davidson  &  Wm.  Johnston  to  watch  from  Below  the 
forks  of  the  Road  towards  the  head  of  gauley,14  I 
understand  Vanbiber  hath  sent  Two  out  to  watch 
from  the  mouth  of  Greenbrier  towards  the  head  of 


13  Jacob  Lockhart  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  on  Green¬ 
brier,  and  accompanied  Matthew  Arbuckle  on  an  expedition  to 
the  Indian  towns  to  recover  horses,  some  time  before  Dun- 
more’s  War.  In  the  latter  expedition,  he  served  as  a  scout. 
He  was  killed  by  Indians  shortly  after  the  Revolution. — Ed. 

14  Two  well-known  Indian  trails  were  covered  by  these 
scouts ;  the  former  came  up  the  Kanawha,  and  then  struck 
across  the  branches  of  Meadow  Creek  to  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Muddy,  an  affluent  of  the  Greenbrier.  This  route  was  fol¬ 
lowed  by  the  invaders  who  attacked  Donnally’s  Fort  in  1778, 
and  was  the  outward  passage  of  Lewis’s  army  in  1774.  The 
Gauley  River  route,  farther  northeast,  also  led  to  the  heads  of 
the  Greenbrier. — Ed. 


FRONTIERS  OF  VIRGINIA 


183 


paint  creek,15  which  I  think  is  a  sufficient  number  at 
preasent.  I  know  of  nobody  nigh  me  that  hath  any 
Quantity  of  powder  that  can  be  Secured.  I  am  told 
the  [that]  Capk  Hendersons10  hath  some,  which  I 
make  no  doubt  their  own  prudence  will  direct  them 
to  Keep.  I  shall  be  expeditious  in  giving  you  notice 
on  the  appearance  of  any  of  the  Enemy  and  am  with 
Esteem 

Your  Obed  Humb1  Servt. 

John  Stewart 

N.  B.  Should  you 'think  the  above  number  of  men 
necessary  at  preasant  I  think  Cap.  Donallys  would  be 
a  proper  place  for  one  Division  as  it  is  convenient 
for  a  number  of  people  &  will  cover  a  great  many 
more.17 

J.  s. 

O11  publick  Service  Augk  To  Col°.  William  Fleming 

Botetourt. 

>  —  ■  — 

15  The  western  Indian  trail  around  the  narrows  of  the  Great 
Kanawha  led  up  Paint  Creek,  thence  crossed  Flattop  Moun¬ 
tain,  and  came  back  to  the  main  river  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Bluestone. — Ed. 

10  John  Henderson — son  of  James,  who  served  in  the  French 
and  Indian  War — was  born  about  1737  in  Augusta  County. 
In  1765  he  married  Anne  Givens,  sister  of  Mrs.  Andrew  Lewis, 
and  soon  after  removed  to  Greenbrier,  where  he  established 
a  homestead  not  far  from  Lewisburg.  In  1774  he  served  as 
lieutenant  under  Captain  Herbert,  and  became  captain  of 
militia  until  December  1776,  when  he  resigned  to  enter  Daniel 
Morgan’s  regiment  as  a  corporal  in  Daniel  Gregory’s  company. 
Leaving  the  army  in  April,  1779,  he  became  justice  of  peace 
and  died  at  his  home  in  Greenbrier  County  in  1787.  See  West 
Virginia  Magazine ,  April,  1905. — Ed. 

17  Andrew  Donnally  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  re¬ 
moving  to  America  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  cen¬ 
tury.  He  went  out  to  the  extreme  frontier  of  Greenbrier,  and 
built  a  blockhouse  there  in  1771 — about  eight  miles  north  cf 
the  present  Lewisburg.  Donnally  was  a  man  of  influence  and 


184 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


[Col.  William  Fleming  to  Capt.  John  Stuart.  3ZZ3  —  Draft 

in  Fleming’s  handwriting.] 

Sir — Yours  I  received  by  Cap1  Donnaly.  I  think 
it  may  be  prudent  to  keep  a  small '  Command  of  Men 
at  the  Fort  on  the  levels  when  finished  to  preserve 
it.  this  is  all  that  I  have  at  present  in  my  power  to 
do.  till  we  have  more  reason  to  Apprehend  an  Ac¬ 
tual  Invasion,  the  Ordinance  for  that  purpose  limits 
me.  but  depend  upon  it  as  soon  as  I  have,  I  will 
take  every  effectual  Measure  for  the  defence  of  Our 
Frontiers  I  am  in  hopes  to  have  it  in  my  power  in 
a  short  time  to  send  you  a  supply  of  Powder  should 
it  be  wanted,  in  the  meantime  I  desire  you  will1  en¬ 
deavour  to  quiet  the  Apprehensions  of  the  People  as 
they  may  depend  on  being  effectually  supported,  I 
am  Sir 

Your  Hble  Serv1 

WiLLm  Fleming 

Augt  24th.  1776 

ability.  In  1776  he  was  captain  of  militia,  and  in  May,  1778, 
defended  his  fort  against  an  Indian  raid.  He  is  reputed  to 
have  been  lieutenant  of  Botetourt  County  (see  West  Virginia 
Magazine ,  July,  1901,  pp.  52-56)  ;  but  if  so,  he  could  not  have 
been  chosen  until  after  the  retirement  of  Col.  William  Flem¬ 
ing,  who  held  that  office  during  the  Revolution.  In  1782  Don- 
nally  was  a  trustee  for  the  founding  of  Lewisburg;  but  some 
time  after  removed  to  the  Kanawha  Valley,  where  he  lived 
first  at  Point  Pleasant,  then  on  Elk  Creek,  and  later  at 
Charleston.  In  1789  and  again  in  1803  he  represented  Kana¬ 
wha  County  in  the  state  legislature.  He  died  at  his  Charles¬ 
ton  home  about  1825.  The  fort  in  Greenbrier  was  destroyed 
about  the  same  time. — Ed. 


AT  FORT  RANDOLPH 


185 


NEWS  FROM  FORT  RANDOLPH 

[Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  2ZZ78  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Fort  Randolph  18  August  15th  1776 
Worthy  Sir — As  I  am  Inform’d  Your  Committee 
has  had  Some  Complaints  Laid  in  Against  me  By 
Some  person  About  Sundry  Affairs  Transacted  By 
me.  In  the  first  place  worthy  Sir  View  My  Station 
So ’Remote  from  Advice  or  Councel  from  any  of  the 
Committee’s,  and  Oblige’d  to  Act  According  As  My 
own  Weak  Judgment  Tell  I  Never  have  Recd  any 
Positive  Instructions  from  the  ^  Committee  of  Safety 
or  Your  Committee  Concerning  My  Enlisting  of  men, 
I  have  therefore  wrote  to  the  Committee  of  'Safety 
Long  Ago  to  have  positive  Instructions  Concerning 
this  point  and  have  Recd.  none,  then  I  Sent  Officers 
to  Get  men  Not  willing  to  Leave  this  Garrison  Lest 
the  Indians  Should  Make  a  Break  which  I  Did  not 
Know  But  might  Be  Every  hour,  as  there  had  up¬ 
wards  of  Fifty  of  My  men  Given  Me  warning  Ac¬ 
cording  to  the  Ordinance  to  Leave  the  Garrison  At 
the  Expiration  of  their  Year,  If  •  I  was  Not  to  Get 
men  in  that  time  to  Come  to  fill  their  Vacant  places 
the  Garrison  Must  of  Course  Break  up  and  Either  I 
misunderstand  the  Ordinance  or  it  Sais  there  Shall 


18  Fort  Randolph  was  built  by  Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle  in 
the  early  summer  of  1776,  to  replace  Fort  Blair  (see  Dun- 
more' s  War ,  p.  310,  note  27),  which  had  been  burned  by  the 
Indians  in  1775.  It  was  erected  about  forty  rods  from  the 
first  fort,  and  held  a  garrison  until  the  close  of  the  Revolution. 
The  name  was  no  doubt  given  in  honor  of  Peyton  Randolph, 
for  whom  see  ante,  p.  66,  note  97. — Ed. 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


1 86 

Officers  Recruit  men  to  fill  the  Vacont  places  that 
They  May  Be  at  the  Station  Before  the  men  Leave 
it  Lest  those  few  that  Remains  Become  a  prey  to  the 

j  sr  J 

thirsty  Savages  and  the  Garrison  Be  Destroyd  Not 
having  a  Sufficient  Strength  to  Keep  it  against  an  In¬ 
human  and  fierce  Enemy  As  Such  I  Look  upon  the 
Indians  when  at  war  But  Worthy  Sir,  My  Country 
Shall  Never1  have  to  Say  I  Dare  not  Stand  the  At¬ 
tacks  of  the  Indians  or  fly  the  Cause  they  are  So 
'  Justly  fighting  for,  on  the  Contrary  I  'will  Loose  the 
Last  Drop  of  My  Blood  in  Defence  of  My  Country 
when  fighting  for  that  Blessed  Enjoyment  Calld.  Lib¬ 
erty  and  Should  all  the  Indians  Nations  Join  in  Con¬ 
federacy  and  attack  me  here  tho  I  ffiad  But  Twenty 
men  I  would  Defend  it  with  My  Latest  Breath,  and 
Glory  In  the  Cause,  and  I  am  Willing  when  Calld  on 
By  Your  Committee  or  any  Other  to  have  My  Trans¬ 
actions  Examin’d  in  the  Strictest  Manner.  As  to  the 
Best  of  My  Little  Judgment  I  Act  all  I  Can  for  the 
Safeguard  of  My  Country  and  My  own  honour.  I 
was  Inform’d  Some  time  Ago  the  Shanahs  and  Chero¬ 
kee’s  had  taken  3  Women  prisoners  from  Cantu ckee 
and  Got  one  Scalp,19  I  therefore  Dispatchd.  three  of 
My  Men  to  Demand  the  three  prisoners  (If  in  pos¬ 
session  of  the  Shanahs)  to  be  Immediately  Deliverd 
up  two  of  the  women  were  Daughters  to  Colo1.  Cala- 
way  at  Cantuckee  and  the  other  a  Daughter  of  Colo1 
Boon’s  at  Cantuckee  Likewise  and  this  Day  the  Men 

10  The  scalp  was  doubtless  that  of  James  Cooper,  a  Penn¬ 
sylvanian  who  first  visited  Kentucky  in  1775.  He  was  killed 
near  Licking  River,  July  7,  1776.  See  Amer.  Archives ,  5th 
series,  i,  p.  1228. — Ed. 


AT  FORT  RANDOLPH 


are  Return'd  Again  with  one  of  the  1  Shanah  Chiefs 
and  Brother  of  the  Cornstalk’s,  Who  Informs  Me  that 
After  having  taken  the  Prisoners  from  Cantuck  the 
white's  follow’d  and  Retook  the  prisoners  and  Killd 
two  of  their  Men,20  upon  this  I  Inform’d  them  the 
fate  of  the  Cherokee’s  and  that  our  people  would 
without  Dispute  Cut  them  all  off  which  Seem  to  have 
a  Great  Effect  upon  them  and  they  promised  to  hold 
to  a  Lasting  peace  But  this  I  Dispute  as  they  have 
Now  the  Cornstalk  away  at  fort  Detroit  Treating 
with  the  English  and  are  Constantly  Backward’s  and 
forward’s,  on  that  Course  So  that  the  peace  with  them 
I  Look  upon  it  not  to  Be  Lasting  and  am  Ever  on 
My  Guard  for  fear  of  a  Surprise,  and  the  Trader’s 
Gets  Quantitys  of  Goods  from  the  English  at  Detroit 
and  has  for  Some  time,  As  the  Traders  Inform’d  My 
Men  while  at  the  Town’s  they  had  Recd  Sundry  of 
Goods  from  thence  for  the  Use  of  the  Indians ;  So 
any  Material  Transactions  that  Occurs  I  shall  Inform 
you  And  Remain  Your  Devoted  Humble  Servant  to 
Command 

Mattw  Arbuckle 

20  The  capture  and  rescue  of  Jemima  Boone,  and  Elizabeth 
(Betsy)  and  Frances  (Fanny)  Callaway  is  one  of  the  thrilling 
tales  of  early  Kentucky  settlement.  The  girls  were  taken 
July  14,  1776,  from  a  canoe  just  below  Boonesborough,  and 
hurried  off  to  the  northward  across  Licking  River.  Daniel 
Boone  at  once  organized  a  rescue  party,  which  caught  up  with 
the  fugitives  on  the  third  day.  The  three  girls  were  rescued, 
and  two  of  the  savages  were  shot,  later  dying  of  their  wounds. 
Draper  collected  much  material  on  this  episode,  which  he  em¬ 
bodied  in  his  manuscript  “Life  of  Boone,”  4B  77“ 99. — Ed. 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


1 88 

INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS 

[Transcribed  by  Draper  from  Pennsylvania  Packet  of  August 

27,  1776.  16J27.] 

Philadelphia,  Aug.  20,  1776. 

Saturday  se’en  night21  George  Morgan,  Esqr.  ar¬ 
rived  in  this  city  from  the  W estward :  On  the  9th  ult° 
whilst  at  one  of  the  Shawanese  Towns  on  the  Scioto, 
he  received  intelligence  of  three  Six  Nation  warriors 
having  passed  by  •  there  with  two  prisoners  they  had 
taken  sixteen  days  before22  from  Virginia.  Mr.  Mor¬ 
gan  followed  and  got  to  their  town  before  them,  pre¬ 
vented  •  the  usual  punishment  of  the  prisoners  on  their 
entry,  and  insisted  on  their  being  immediately  deliv¬ 
ered  up  to  him,  unless  they  intended  this  breach  of  the 
peace  as  an  open  declaration  of  war.  All  the  head¬ 
men  of  the  Six  Nations,  Shawanese  &  Delawares,  who 
were  called  together  on  this  occasion,  behaved  in  a 
very  friendly  manner,  and  joined  with  Mr.  Morgan  in 
his  demand  made  to  these  warriors,  who  soon  com¬ 
plied  therewith,  and  were  promised  forgiveness  on 
condition  of  future  good  behavior.  These  warriors 
told  Mr.  Morgan  they  had  done  no  damage,  except 
[unless]  they  killed  a  young  man  they  shot 'at  when 
they  took  these  prisoners;  but  he  made  his  escape, 
though  they  believed  the  ball  entered  his  breast.  The 
prisoners  are  twin  sons  of  Andrew  McConnell,  late 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  removed  last  winter  to  Lees 
Town  on  Kenruke  [Kentucky]  river,  and  were  taken 
within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  town.  Mr.  Mor- 


21  August  3,  1776. — L.  C.  D. 

28  About  June  24th.-r-L.  C.  D. 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS 


189 

gan  brought  them  with  him  to  Pittsburg,  and  deliv¬ 
ered  them  to  their  uncle  in  Westmoreland  County  in 
this  State. 

Since  then  a  small  party  of  Shawanese  returning 
from  the  Cherokee  country,  killed  and  scalped  two 
persons  near  the  Big  Bone  Lick ;  they  were  pursued 
by  a  few  of  the  neighbors,  who  killed  and  scalped 
two  of  the  Indians — the  others  escaped.23  This 
breach  is  also  likely  to  be  settled  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  parties,  as  the  headmen  had  expressed  great 
concern  at  the  conduct  of  their  *  foolish  young  people, 
and  promise  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  preserve  our 
friendship. 

A  treaty  is  to  be  held  at  Pittsburg  with  the  Western 
Indians  the  beginning  of  October,  when,  ■  it  is  hoped, 
they  will  listen  to  and  follow  their  true  interests  as 
they  have  promised  to  do. 

Williamsburg  Ya.  Aug.  17 — We  understand  from 
Fort  Pitt  that  the  Northern  Indians  are  not  disposed 
to  attack  us  in  that  quarter,  &  have  only  engaged  not 
to  suffer  [an  army]  to  march  through  their  country 
against  Detroit;  we  may  hope  that  there  is  not  much 
to  be  dreaded  from  the  terrible  combination  of  In¬ 
dians  we  have  been  threatened  with  by  our  enemies. 

23  Reference  to  the  killing  of  Cooper,  and  the  capture  of  the 
Boone  and  Callaway  girls,  as  described  in  the  preceding  docu¬ 
ment. — Ed. 


190 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 

1 

THREATENED  HOSTILITIES 

[Commissioners  of  Indian  Affairs,  circular  letter  to  county 

lieutenants.  1U34  —  L.  S.] 

Pittsburgh  Augt.  31st  1776 

Sir — We  'Yesterday  Evening  received  Intelligence 
by  a  Gentleman  from  the  lower  Shawanese  Towns, 
which  is  very  alarming,  a  General  Confederacy  of 
the  Western  Tribes  seems  to  'have  been  form’d,  in 
order  to  Strike  our  Frontier  Settlements.  The  In¬ 
dians  it  is  said  wait  only  untill  their  scatter’d  Young 
men  can  be  call’d  in,  and  the  Corn  be  somewhat  riper 
for  their  Subsistance  before  they  take  up  the  Hatchet. 
The  danger  of  the  Times  demand  that  every  meas¬ 
ure  should  be  taken  to  defend  ourselves  from  their 
Incursions  and  'repel  their  attacks.  We  have  sent  an 
Express  to  Congress  upon  this  occasion  and  have 
wrote  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Virginia  on  the 
same  Subject.  We  would  not  wish  to  alarm  too  much 
the  minds  of  the  People  it  must  rest  with  you  to 
intimate  the  News  We  have  receiv’d  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  your  County  in  such  manner  as  you  shall  think 
most  eligible  and  conducive  to  the  Public  Weal.  We 
think  it  our  duty  to  communicate  to  you  and  the  other 
Lieutenants  of  the  Neighboring  Counties,  the  critical 
Situation  of  Indian  affairs,  their  plan  of  Operation 
is  that  the  Chippawas  and  Ottawas  two  numerous 
Tribes  should  attack  this  place,  and  the  Shawanese 
the  Settlements  on  this  side  the  Ohio,  a 'few  days 
will  evince  their  real  Intentions,  We  Therefore  Rec¬ 
ommend  it  to  you  in  the* strongest  Terms  to  hold  your 


MILITIA  IN  READINESS 


191 

Militia  in  readiness  to  march  properly  accoutred  on 
the  shortest  notice  as  the  emergency  of  Affairs  may 
require  your  immediate  assistance. 

We  are  Sir  yr.  most  Obcd.  Servts. 

Thomas  Walker 
Jn°.  Harvie 
John  Montgomery24 
J.  Yeates25 


24  John  Montgomery  was  a  Scotch-Irishman  born  in  Ireland 
in  1722.  About  1740  he  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  at 
Carlisle,  where  he  was  a  successful  merchant.  In  the  French 
and  Indian  War  he  was  commissioned  captain  in  Forbes’s 
army  (1758),  and  was  a  prominent  patriot  leader  in  the  early 
Revolution,  in  1774  acting  as  chairman  of  the  first  committee 
from  his  county.  In  July,  1776,  he  was  appointed  by  Congress 
to  hold  the  treaty  at  Pittsburgh,  and  continued  there  until 
November.  The  next  year  he  was  colonel  of  a  Pennsylvania 
regiment  in  the  New  Jersey  campaign,  and  served  in  Congress, 
1782-83.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  Cumberland  County, 
and  aided  in  founding  Dickenson  College,  dying  at  his  home  in 
Carlisle  in  1808. — Ed. 

25  Jasper  Yeates  belonged  to  a  well-known  Philadelphia  fam¬ 
ily,  and  was  born  in  that  city  in  1745.  He  was  early  admitted 
to  the  bar,  and  became  an  eminent  jurist  and  member  of  the 
Pennsylvania  supreme  court  (1791-1817).  During  the  Revo¬ 
lution  he  resided  in  Lancaster,  and  was  an  active  patriot,  aid¬ 
ing  the  colonists  both  financially  and  with  his  legal  knowledge. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania  convention  that  ratified 
the  constitution,  and  was  a  commissioner  for  the  government 
in  the  Whiskey  Rebellion  (1794).  During  his  sojourn  at  Pitts¬ 
burgh -as  Indian  commissioner,  he  visited  Braddock’s  battle¬ 
field  and  vividly  described  its  appearance  and  his  impressions 
(see  Samuel  Hazard,  Register  of  Pennsylvania ,  vi,  p.  104). 
Judge  Yeates  died  at  his  Lancaster  home  in  1817. — Ed. 


192 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEFENSE 

[Col.  William  Fleming  to  Capt.  George  Givens.  3ZZ4 — 
Draft  in  Fleming’s  handwriting.] 

Septr.  2d.  1776 

Sir — It  is  thought  Necessary  that  a  CompL  should 
march  to  the  Protection  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Green 
Brier.  And  as  the  Field  Officers  have  Appointed  you 
to  that  'Charge,  you  will  therefore  immediately  en¬ 
deavour  to  get  the  CompL  compleated,  you  are  to  have 
Lieut1.  Beard  from  Cap1.  Hanleys  and  an  Ensign  from 
Cap1  Deans  CompL  for  Your  Officers.  You  are  to  Ap¬ 
point  a  Sergeant  in  your  Own  CompL  Lieu1  Wright 
has  orders  from  me  to  Send  you  a  Serg1  &  Eight 
Men  from  his  Compy.  You  will  I  expect  get  Volun¬ 
teers  in  your  Own  CompL  &  Cap1  Hanleys,  without 
draughting  the  Compies.  I  have  wrote  to  the  Captls  to 
have  their  proportion  of  Men  ready.  You  had  better 
Appoint  a  day  for  them  to  Muster  their  Comp108  and 
Attend.  You  are  to  march  as  quick  as  possible  I  ex¬ 
pect  you  will  march  next  week  you  will  send  Your 
Ensign  &  fifteen  men  to  Cap1  Vanbibers  fort.  Your 
Lieut1.  &  fifteen  to  Cap1  Donnalys.  &  You  with  the  re¬ 
maining  part  may  continue  at  Ca[m]p.  Union  or1  else 
where  as  may  be  most  necessary  for  the  protection  or 
defence  of  the  Inhabitants,  in  which  you  will  be  di¬ 
rected  by  Cap1  Stuart.  Your  Proportion  of  men  will 
be  20.  or  more  if  you  can  get  them  from  your  own 
CompL  The  Lieut1  16.  the  Ensign  ten  &  with  Cap1 
Robinsons  8  will  make  your  Compy.  54.  You  are  to 
use  your  utmost  dilegence  in  protecting  the  Inhabi- 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEFENSE 


193 


tants,  &  repelling  an  Invasion,  let  me  hear  from  you, 
from  time  to  time  &  You  will  Oblidge  Your  Hble 
Servt 

[William  Fleming] 

To  Cap*  Givens  26 


[Capt.  John  Stuart  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  3ZZ5  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Greenbrier  Sept.  3d.  1776 

Sr — I  Recd  an  Order  pr  Cap11.  Vanbibber  from  you 
for  thirty  five  pounds  of  the  Countrys  lead  in  'my 
care,  which  I  delivered  to  him,  he  also  say’d  you  de¬ 
sired  to  Know  how  much  of  the  lead  was  here  which 
I  cannot  give  an  Exact  account  of,  for  want  of  an 
Instrument  to  weigh  it,  but  I  Recd.  it  of  the  commis¬ 
sary  after  the  Expedition  &  the  weight  then  was 
543w  Capt  Arbuckle  since  had  an  order  for  it  &  I 
suppose  may  at  different  times  have  carryed 
away  about  200w  I  also  let  Capt.  Hamilton  on  muddy 
creek27  have  20w.  as  they  had  not  any  there  which 
will  be  delivered  back  again  in  case  it  is  not  used 


26  The  Givens  were  a  prominent  Augusta  County  family, 
James  having  received  a  grant  of  land  therein  in  1738.  This 
was  Capt.  George,  who  had  been  lieutenant  in  Dunmore’s  War, 
and  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  on  the  death  of  Samuel  Wil¬ 
son. — Ed. 

27  Andrew  Hamilton  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the 
Greenbrier  region;  see  Dunmore’s  War,  p.  319.  Captain 
Hamilton  was  chosen  by  lot  to  lead  troops  to  re-inforce  Gen¬ 
eral  Hand  in  1777,  and  upon  his  return  from  Point  Pleasant 
led  out  a  party  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians  after  the  siege  of 
Donnally’s  fort  in  1778. — Ed. 

13 


194 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


against  the  Enemy,  the  alarm  from  Cap1.  Arbuckle 
has  caused  a  good  many  people  in  those  parts  to  move 
off.  their  familys  the  Remainder  are  chiefly  gathered 
in  to  forts,  the  Bearer  Cap1  Anderson28  can  Inform 
you  of  the  Situation  of  the  people  at  present  I  have 
sent  Two  men  to  the  point  to  know  how  Cap1  Ar¬ 
buckle  is,  as  soon  as  they  Return  I  shall  inform  you 
you  what  Inteligance  the[y]  Bring  I  have  Twenty 
two  men  which  was  Imployed  Building  the  fort  I 
darsay  you  will  not  think  it  Imprudent  to  Keep  them 
together  untill  the  people  is  something  appeased  or 
we  know  more  of  the  design  of'Enimy,  the  people 
up  the  river  are  Intirely  Destitute  of  ammunition  of 
any  Kind,  if  there  is* any  to  come  to  those  parts  I 
Should  be  glad  how  soon  it  Colud  [could]  be  sent 
out,  Cap1  Anderson  will  be  applying' for  a  small  com¬ 
mand  to  stay  at  mill  of  his,  which  will  be  the  only 
Benifisial  one -in  those  parts  should  the  Indians  come 
and  should  you  think  proper  to  allow  them  might  be 
of  great  Service.  Andw.  Wallace  &  Jn°.  Galloway  is 
now  hear  with  som  Recruits  of  Cap1  Arbuckles  com¬ 
pany,  they  Intend  [waiting]  untill  [MS.  torn]  returns 
from  the  point,  when  the[y]  Design  takeing  som 
beaf cattle  with  them,  as  Cap1  Arbuckle  is  in  much 
need  of  them.  I  have  Supplyed  the  men,  they  have 
with  them  as  well  as  those  I  had  Raising  the  fort, 
with  my  own  salt  which  is  a  presious  article  here  & 
should  be  •  Exceeding  glad  to  Know  whether  I  can¬ 
not  be  Repaid  in  the  Salt  now  in  the  hands  of  the 

28  Probably  one  of  the  family  noted  in  Dunmore’s  War,  p. 
137,  note  95. — Ed. 


ALONG  THE  OHIO 


195 


committee  should  the  enimy  come  &  more  'men  be 
call’d  together  we  shall  be  very  bad  off  for  that  ar¬ 
ticle  unless  som  'is  sent  us.  I  shall  be  Expedisious 
in  leting  you  Know  of  any  appearance  of  the  Enimy 
that  may  happen  and  am  with  Respect 

Your  Most  Humb1.  Servk 

John  Stewart 

Col0  William  Fleming  Botetourt  favour  of  Cap*  Jn°  An¬ 
derson. 


FORTS  ON  THE  OHIO 

[Col.  Dorsey  Pentecost  to  David  Shepherd.  1SS15 — A.  L.  S.] 

September  4^.  1776 

Sir — It  is  has  been  thought  Expedient  for  the  Pro¬ 
tection  and  Safety  of  the  frontiers  to  Station  a  Num¬ 
ber  of  Men  at  Different  places  on  the  Ohio  between 
Fort  Pitt,  and  the  mouth  of  Grave  Creek,29  and  at  a 
Council  'of  war  held  this  day  you  have  been  Ap¬ 
pointed  Commissary  for  to  Victual  &c.  Such  of  the 
Militia  as  are  now  or  may  be  Imployed  on  the  pres¬ 
ent  Emergency,  and  I  having  also  Laid  your  Ap¬ 
pointment  before  the  Committee  of  the  County  which 
they  have  been  pleased  to  approve,  I  am  therefore  to 
Desire  that  you  immediately  proceed  to  provide  Such 
provisions  &c.  as  shall  be  wanting  on  this  occassionj 
taking  care  to  supply  them  in  due  Time,  &  purchase 
on  the  best  Terms  you  can  on  the  faith  of  Gov¬ 
ernment.  I  need  not  suggest  to  you  the  Great  Ne¬ 
cessity  there  is  of  your  Exerting  Your  self,  but  am 


29  For  Grave  Creek  see  Ibid.,  p.  36,  note  64. — Ed. 


196 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


full  assured  that  you  will  Exert  your  best  Endeav¬ 
ours  in  facilitating  the  Business  at  this  Time  of 
alarm  and  Great  Calamity 

I  am  Sir  your  Most  Hme  Servt 

Dorsey  •  Pentecost  C.  Liu11 
To  David  Shepherd  Esqr  Wheeling 30 


REINFORCEMENTS  ORDERED 

[Pres.  John  Page  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  1U35  —  L.  S.] 

Williamsburg  in  Council  Sepr  9th.  1776 
Sir — Having  received  a  Letter  from  the  Commis¬ 
sioners  appointed  to  treat  with  the  Northern  Indians, 
representing  the  Danger  which  in  their  opinion 
threatens  Fort  Pitt  from  the  hostile  Disposition  of 
those  Tribes,  who  under  the  pretence  of  treating  with 
the  Commissioners  are  collecting  in  such  numbers, 
that  the  present  Garrison  at  that 'Fort  would  be  un¬ 
able  to  baffle  their  attempts.  You  are  therefore  re¬ 
quired  to  pay  a  particular  attention  to  the  orders 


30  Col.  David  Shepherd,  eldest  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in 
Berkeley  County,  Virginia,  near  Shepherdstown,  where  his 
father  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  Shenandoah  Val¬ 
ley,  allied  with  the  Hites  and  Van  Meters.  In  1770  he  re¬ 
moved  to  the  West  and  settled  at  the  forks  of  Wheeling 
Creek,  in  what  is  now  Ohio  County,  W.  Va.  Having  acted  as 
commissary  under  Pentecost,  he  was  in  January,  1777,  chosen 
county-lieutenant  for  the  newly-erected  Ohio  County,  and 
acted  in  that  capacity  until  his  death  in  1795.  He  commanded 
Fort  Henry  during  its  siege  in  1777,  and  led  a  regiment  on 
Brodhead’s  Coshocton  expedition  (1781).  During  1783-&5 
Shepherd  served  in  the  Virginia  legislature,  and  during  the 
Indian  wars  was  efficient  in  guarding  the  frontier.  For  a  ful¬ 
ler  biography  see  l 'Vest  Virginia  Historical  Magazine ,  January, 
I903- — Ed. 


REINFORCEMENTS  ARRIVING 


197 


they  have  sent  you,  and  hold  such  a  body  of  Men  in 
readiness  to  march  to  their  assistance,  as  they  may 
require. 

We  are  Sir  your  hle.  Servts 

Signed  by  order  of  Council 

John  Page  P*.81 

P.  S.  If  you  can  make  out  another  Compa  you  are 
also  required  to  send  it  to  Point  Pleasant. 

j.  p. 

County  Lieut,  of  Botetourt 


[Capt.  John  Stuart  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  3ZZ6  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Greenbrier  Sept,  16th  1776 

Sr. — I  Recd.  yours  by  Express  &  shall  Indeavour 
to  embody  the1  Number  of  men  you  mention  with  all 
expedition.  Capt  Givens  arrived  yesterday  at  camp 
union  with  about  thirty  men  &  Expects  he  will  have 
as  many  •  as  will  make  them  thirty  seven  soon,  as  a 
party  is  to  follow,  they  will  march  Immediately  to 
mudday  creek  I  have  not  heard  anything  of  Capt 
McKee,32  but  ‘his  Lieut.  Thompson  is  now  at  Camp 
union  &  has  about  seven  oir  Eight  of  his  Recruits 


31  John  Page  (1744-1808),  coming  of  an  old  Virginia  fam¬ 
ily,  was  elected  first  president  of  the  governor’s  council  under 
the  new  constitution,  June  29,  1776.  He  was  Virginia  mem¬ 
ber  of  Congress  (1789-97),  and  governor  of  his  state  (1802- 
05). — Ed. 

32  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Capt.  William  McKee  see  Dun- 
more’s  War,  p.  348,  note  69.  He  was  in  command  of  Fort 
Randolph  during  Arbuckle’s  absence  in  the  spring  of  1778, 
when  beseiged  by  an  Indian  force. — Ed. 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


198 

gathered  there.  Mr.  Mathews33  will  have  the  cat¬ 
tle  gathered  against  wedensday  night,  that  they  will  be 
ready  to  start  on  the  next  morning,  Mr.  Wallace  & 
Galloway  has  now  about  20  Recruits  at  Camp  Union 
&  I  have  Desired  Morris  to  detain  with  his  party  of 
10  men  at  muddy  creek  untill  the  cattle  are  ready 
to  Start,  however,  I  apprehend  without  the  addition 
of  som  militia  to  those  they  are  not  willing  to  -  go,  & 
I  understand  by  Capt  Givens  his  men  refuses  to  go. 
I  shall  if  no  better  will  do  Indeavour  to  make 
them  50  Strong  as  it  may  be  necessary  from' the  pres- 
ant  aperance  of  danger  out  of  my  own  Militia,  & 
have  them  sent  off  as  soon  as  possible  the  messen¬ 
gers  I  sent  for  the  point  Returned  with  a  party  of 
Capt.  Arbuckles  Soldiers  who’s  time  was  expired  & 
were  coming  home  these  brings  no  further  Inteli- 
gence  than  the  Indians  were  all  withdrawn  from  the 
point  and  two  days  before  they  came  away  Capt  ,Her- 
rod34  had  arived  there  from  Kentucke,  with  four¬ 
teen  men  &\had  met  several  partys  of  Indians  going 
down  the  River  who  were  very  sivle,  &  this  I  find 
has  made  the  people  at  the  -point  less  apprehensive 
of  an  attack  then  formerly,  but  without  any  othei 
reason  than  that,  &  the  forbearance  of  the  Indians.  I 
expect  more  of  Capt.  Arbuckles  men  soon  &  if  there 
is  any  thing  meterial  shall  let  you  Know  Immediately, 
one  of  our  scouts  from  that  quarter  next  the  warrior 

83  Probably  Archer  Matthews,  brother  of  George  and  Samp¬ 
son,  who  were  captains  in  Dunmore’s  War.  Archer  early  re¬ 
moved  to  the  neighborhood  of  Matthew  Arbuckle,  in  Green¬ 
brier. — Ed. 

34  Capt.  William  Harrod,  for  whom  see  Dunmore’s  War ,  p. 
68,  note  14. — Ed. 


NEWS  OF  THE  TRIBESMEN 


199 


fording  came  in  yesterday  they  have  for  several  dayj 
past  heared  gunns  &  seen  som  signs  &  seems  to  be 
much  persuaded  its  Indians  but  could  never  discover 
the  certainty.  I  have  nothing  more  at  present  to  In¬ 
form  you  of  &  am  with  Esteem 

Your  most  Obd.  Humb1.  Servh 

John  Stewart. 

On  Publick  Service 

To  Col.  William  Fleming  Botetourt 


DISPOSITION  OF  THE  INDIAN  TRIBES 

[Summary  of  a  report  made  by  the  Commissioners  of  Indian 
Affairs  at  Pittsburgh  to  Congress,  printed  in  Amer.  Ar¬ 
chives,  5th  series,  ii,  pp.  511-518.] 

The  report  (dated  at  Pittsburgh,  September  25, 
1776)  is  to  the  effect  that  news  has  been  received 
that  fifteen  hundred  Chippewa  and  Ottawa  intend  soon 
to  rendezvous  at  Tuscarawas,35  with  the  probable 
purpose  of  an  attack  on  Fort  Pitt;  also  that  a  party 
of  Potawatomi30  has  started  to  attack  the  settlements. 
The  Mingo,  Wyandot,  and  Caughnawaga  are  known 
to  be  hostile,  and  have  already  taken  some  prisoners 
from  Kentucky. 

35  The  Tuscarawas  River,  branch  of  the  Muskingum,  in  east¬ 
ern  Ohio,  where  there  were  several  Delaware  Indian  towns. 

86  The  Potawatomi  are  an  Algonquian  tribe  who  were  first 
encountered  by  French  explorers  on  the  shores  of  Green  Bay, 
in  what  is  now  Wisconsin.  Later  they  had  villages  in  the 
vicinity  of  Detroit,  St.  Josephs  (Mich.),  and  Milwaukee 
(Wis.).  They  were  early  known  as  “French  Indians/’  being 
subservient  to  the  whiteman’s  wishes,  and  afterwards  followed 
the  British  directions.  Their  part  in  the  Revolution  was 
small. — Ed. 


200 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Fearing  an  attack  of  some  of  these  hostiles  on 
Pittsburgh,  Colonels  Carnahan  and  Proctor37  of 
Westmoreland  County,  and  Col.  Dorsey  Pentecost  of 
West  Augusta,  were  ordered  to  call  out  the  militia 
for  the  defense  of  the  post.  Col.  Aenaes  Mackay88 
was  also  ordered  to  lay  in  provisions  for  his  battalions 
at  Kittanning.39  Conferences  were  held  with  such 


37  Col.  John  Carnahan  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  set¬ 
tled  first  at  Carlisle,  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa.  In  1775  he 
was  appointed  high-sheriff  of  Westmoreland  County,  holding 
that  office  until  1781,  being  also  colonel  of  the  county  militia. 
He  was  drowned  in  the  Allegheny  in  1788.  His  son  James  be¬ 
came  president  of  Princeton  College. 

Col.  John  Proctor  was  a  neighbor  and  near  friend  of  Ar¬ 
chibald  Lochry,  for  whom  he  served  as  executor.  He  took  up 
land  in  Westmoreland  as  early  as  1769  and  was  first  sheriff  of 
Bedford,  then  of  Westmoreland  upon  its  erection  in  1773.  Ap¬ 
pointed  colonel  of  the  first  battalion,  he  took  his  men  to  the 
Eastern  army  in  1 777.  He  died  some  time  after  1791. — Ed. 

38  Col.  Aeneas  Mackay’ s  former  place  of  residence  does  not 
appear  in  the  records.  From  1773-76  he  was  prominent  in 
Westmoreland  County  politics,  and  in  July  of  the  latter  year 
became  colonel  of  the  8th  Pennsylvania  regiment.  His  regi¬ 
ment  was  at  Kittanning  when  the  commissioners  wrote,  march¬ 
ing  thence  to  the  Eastern  army  in  the  following  December. 
The  fatigues  of  the  winter  expedition  were  too  much  for 
Colonel  Mackay,  who  succumbed  to  the  strain,  and  died 
February,  1 777,  in  New  Jersey,  being  buried  with  military 
honors  at  Philadelphia. — Ed. 

89  “The  Kittanning”  was  a  term  applied  to  a  stretch  of 
country  along  the  banks  of  the  Allegheny,  about  fifty  miles 
above  Pittsburgh,  where  had  been  several  Delaware  Indian 
villages,  built  soon  after  1730.  These  villages  were  under  the 
chiefs  Captain  Jacobs  and  Shingas,  during  the  French  and  In¬ 
dian  War,  and  were  a  rendezvous  for  the  hostiles  who  issued 
thence  for  attacks  upon  the  frontier.  Here  also  prisoners 
were  detained,  and  several  tortured  and  burned.  In  September, 
1756,  Col.  John  Armstrong  at  the  head  of  a  punitive  party  of 
Pennsylvanians  raided  the  district  and  burned  the  villages.  No 
further  notice  is  found  of  this  place  until  the  opening  of  the 
land  office  in  1769  led  land  speculators  thither.  However  a 
permanent  settlement  was  not  made  until  1774?  when  on  the 
advice  of  Arthur  St.  Clair,  some  Pennsylvania  troops  were 


NEWS  OF  THE  TRIBESMEN 


201 


chiefs  as  came  in  to  Fort  Pitt,  and  no  more  outrages 
being  reported  from  the  Mingo  party  at  Kispapoo 
Town,  the  minds  of  the  commissioners  and  inhabi¬ 
tants  were  somewhat  reassured.  Friendly  chiefs  of¬ 
fered  to  seek  Pluggy’s  Town  and  the  Wyandot  in  the 
interests  of  peace.  Finally,  four  Chippewa  came  to 
treat,  and  were  prevailed  upon  to  remain  until  the 
arrival  of  Wasson,  their  principal  chief.40  All  this 
lessened  the  necessity  for  the  militia,  and  led  to  or¬ 
ders  for  disbanding  most  of  those  that  had  assembled. 
Their  spirited  conduct  on  the  occasion  of  this  alarm, 
deserves  praise.  Two  spies  have  been  sent  to  Cuya- 

stationed  here,  and  a  stockade  built  as  a  base  for  the  Indian 
trade.  Early  in  the  Revolution  there  was  stationed  here  a 
company  under  Captain  Van  Swearingen,  which  remained 
until  the  Western  battalion,  commanded  by  Colonel  Mackay 
rendezvoused  at  this  place.  When  marching  thence  in  Decem¬ 
ber,  1776,  Mackay  left  one  company  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Samuel  Moorhead,  who  strengthened  the  fort,  and  re¬ 
mained  as  a  bulwark  against  Indian  invasions  until  ordered  by 
General  Hand,  in  the  autumn  of  1 777,  to  evacuate  the  block¬ 
house.  In  December  of  the  same  year  a  scouting  party  had  a 
small  skirmish  at  this  spot;  and  again,  in  1779,  Brady  rescued 
some  prisoners  here.  In  June  of  that  year,  Col.  Stephen  Bay¬ 
ard  built  a  fort  at  Kittanning  under  the  orders  of  Col.  Daniel 
Brodhead.  This  he  named  Fort  Armstrong;  but  under  orders 
it  was  evacuated  in  November,  1779,  and  never  again  regularly 
garrisoned.  Fort  Armstrong  was  situated  about  two  miles  be¬ 
low  the  present  town  of  Kittanning,  and  some  ruins  thereof 
were  visible  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century. — Ed. 

40  Wasson  was  the  Chippewa  chief  who  joined  Pontiac  in 
the  siege  of  Detroit  (1763).  One  of  his  nephews  having  been 
killed  in  a  sortie,  Wasson  demanded  the  death  of  Capt.  Don¬ 
ald  Campbell  as  a  matter  of  revenge,  and  put  him  to  torture. 
The  following  year  he  humbly  sued  for  peace  and  forgiveness. 
This  granted,  he  retired  with  his  band  to  Saginaw.  The  chiefs 
of  the  Saginaw  band  of  Chippewa  continued  to  use  the  name 
of  Wasson,  which  was  modified  into  Owasso,  borne  by  a 
chieftain  living  near  the  present  Michigan  town  of  that  name. 
In  1838  the  last  incumbent  of  the  name  was  forcibly  removed 
by  the  government  from  his  village. — Ed. 


202 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


hoga,  and  the  minds  of  all  are  somewhat  reassured. 

Enclosed  in  this  report  was  one  from  William  Wil¬ 
son,41  detailing  his  experiences  during  a  journey  to 
the  Indian  tribes  in  June  and  July  of  this  same  year, 
in  order  to  invite  the  tribesmen  to  a  treaty  at  Fort 
Pitt.  Cornstalk  and  the  Hardman,  Shawnee  chiefs, 
accompanied  him,  and  Joseph  Nicholson  was  met  en 
route.  While  among  the  Delawares,  Wilson  deter¬ 
mined  to  go  to  the  Wyandot  towns,  whereupon  Cap¬ 
tain  White  Eyes  acted  as  his  escort.  At  Wingen- 
uncTs  town  John  Montour  joined  them,  and  they  all 
proceeded  to  the  Wyandot  town  opposite  Detroit. 
There  they  were  present  at  a  council  called  by  the 
British  governor,  who  threatened  Wilson,  and  tore 
his  message  in  pieces  before  the  eyes  of  the  Indians.42 
The  governor  likewise  treated  White  Eyes  with  con¬ 
tumely,  and  ordered  him  to  depart  from  that  vicinity.43 


41  William  Wilson  was  a  well-known  Indian  trader,  resident 
at  Pittsburgh,  who  frequently  acted  as  messenger  and  inter¬ 
preter.  He  had  a  trading  post  near  Beaver  River,  and  in  1793 
gave  information  that  led  to  the  arrest,  trial,  and  acquittal  of 
Capt.  Samuel  Brady  for  Indian  murders.  He  was  in  Detroit 
the  same  year,  and  later  went  down  to  Cincinnati,  whence  he 
proceeded  to  Greenville,  where  he  died  in  1796. — Ed. 

42  See  Hamilton’s  own  account  of  this  conference  in  Michi¬ 
gan  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  x,  pp.  264-267. — Ed. 

43  Heckewelder,  Narrative ,  p.  146.  John  Gottlieb  Ernestus 
Heckewelder  was  born  in  England,  of  German  parentage,  in 
1743.  In  1754  he  emigrated  to  Bethlehem,  Pa.  His  first  visit 
to  the  Ohio  country  was  in  1762,  when  he  accompanied  the 
veteran  missionary  Frederick  Post  on  a  tour  to  the  Ohio  In¬ 
dians.  During  the  years  1765-71  he  was  in  temporary  service 
at  various  missions,  in  the  last-named  year  becoming  first  as¬ 
sistant  to  Zeisberger  in  the  latter’s  Delaware  mission.  About 
1786,  Heckewelder  retired  to  Bethlehem  and  devoted  himself 
to  literary  pursuits,  writing  a  History  of  Indian  Tribes ,  philo¬ 
logical  notes,  etc.  In  1792,  and  again  the  following  year,  he 


NEWS  OF  THE  TRIBESMEN 


203 


Wilson  was  civilly  entertained,  however,  by  the  Brit¬ 
ish  interpreter,  William  Tucker,44  who  admitted  that 
he  thought  it  probable  that  the  Indians  around  De¬ 
troit  would  soon  attack  the  American  settlements. 

On  their  return  these  envoys  met  Isaac  Zane,45  who 
brought  Half-king,  chief  of  the  Wyandot,  to  see  Wil¬ 
son.  The  latter  secured  from  this  important  chief¬ 
tain  a  promise  of  neutrality. 

White  Eyes  has  asked  the  Americans  to  aid  his 
tribe,  the  Delawares,  to  build  a  strong  fort  to  protect 


assisted  at  treaties,  and  was  in  the  civil  service  of  Ohio  1797- 
1800.  For  ten  years  thereafter,  he  lived  among  his  former 
converts  at  Gnadenhiitten,  retiring  finally  to  Bethlehem, 
where  he  died  in  1823. — Ed. 

44William  Tucker  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  but  early  re¬ 
moved  with  his  parents  to  the  frontier  of  Virginia.  In  1754, 
Tucker’s  father,  while  harvesting  grain,  was  killed,  and  two  of 
his  sons  captured  by  a  band  of  Chippewa  Indians.  Young 
Tucker  was  at  that  time  eleven  years  of  age.  He  was  kept  a 
prisoner  for  seven  years,  and  then  entered  the  Indian  trade 
at  Detroit,  where  he  was  present  during  Pontiac’s  siege.  He 
is  said  to  have  given  notice  of  the  aboriginal  plot  to  Major 
Gladwin,  and  thus  saved  the  garrison.  In  1773  he  re-visited 
Virginia,  married,  and  brought  to  Detroit  his  bride  and  sev¬ 
eral  slaves.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  the  official  Ottawa 
and  Chippewa  interpreter,  and  a  captain  in  the  Indian  depart¬ 
ment.  At  its  close,  Tucker  settled  on  his  farm  on  the  site  of 
the  modern  Mt.  Clemens,  and  there  resided  until  his  death  in 
1805.  His  sons  were  in  the  American  service  in  the  War  of 
1812-15,  and  many  descendants  still  live  in  Michigan. — Ed. 

45  Isaac  Zane  was  born  on  the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac 
about  1754,  the  youngest  of  several  brothers  who  afterwards 
became  the  first  settlers  at  Wheeling.  When  nine  years  of 
age  Isaac  was  captured  by  Indians  and  grew  up  among  them, 
marrying  into  the  Wyandot  tribe  and  living  like  an  aborigine. 
He  often  warned  the  border  settlers  of  their  danger  from 
Indian  raids,  and  acted  as  guide  and  interpreter.  About  1795 
he  bought  a  tract  of  1800  acres  in  the  present  Logan  County, 
and  settled  near  Zanesfield,  where  he  died  in  1816. — Ed. 


204 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


them  from  the  Western  tribes,  whom  they  fear  will 
attack  them  because  of  their  friendship  for  the  col¬ 
onists. 


FORT  RANDOLPH  RE-INFORCED 

[Capt.  William  McKee  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  1U38  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

G.  Briar  Sep1’  30th  1776 

Dear  Sir — I  Recd.  yours  by  Mr.  Wallace  with  the 
Powder  and  am  obligd.  to  you  for  the  Additional 
ten  pounds.  I  arrived  at  the  Fort  Charles  in  the  Se- 
vannah46  the  27th  Inst1,  with  only  17  men  besides 
my  self.  4  or  5  were  almost  Ready  wh  I  Expect  here 
before  those  are  Marchd.  from  this  place  Lieut1. 
Thompson  has  Enlisted  about  twenty,  fourteen  of 
them  will  be  Ready  to  go  Down  I  Expect  to  March 
between  30  &  40  with  ML  Thompson  for  Fort  Ran¬ 
dolph  by  this  Day  week.  I  Rec.  a  Letter  from  Majr. 
Nevil  Desiring  [me]  to  send  Down  Men  as  fast  as 
the  coud.  be  Raisd,  to  supply  the  Deficiency  in  the 
Fort  occassioned  by  the  coming  away  of  Cap1.  Ar- 
bucles  Men.  (And  however  Desirous  I  am  of  March¬ 
ing  my  whole  Compy  together)  I  think  it  is  abso¬ 
lutely  Necessary  to  Comply  with  this  Measure. 
The  People  here  are  at  Present  Quite  easy 
a  number  of  men  are  lately  arrived  from  the 
point  from  whom  we  learn  the  Shawanese  are  averse 
to  any  Hostility  agsl  us  (God  Grant  that  temper  may 

46  The  fort  at  Camp  Union — the  site  used  as  a  rendezvous 
for  Lewis’s  division  in  Dunmore’s  War. — Ed. 


HOSTILE  RAIDS 


205 


long  Continue  with  them).  I  saw  Lieut.  Robinson 
He  Informd.  me  he  had  Recruited  Nine.  But  since 
I  came  here  have  heard  he  is  not  sure  of  any  more 
than  one  or  Two  and  that  he  had  Nominated  a  Mul- 
latto  to  be  sergt.  and  he  had  no  Right  to  appoint  any 
if  this  be  the  case  he  is  not  a  good  Judge  of  Pro¬ 
priety  Im  afraid  he  will  not  Raise  his  Quota,  and 
there  are  several  others  woud.  be  willing  that  Im 
Confident  coud.  soon  Raise  their  Quota  were  they  Ap¬ 
pointed  I  believe  all  the  other  Subalterns  will  Com¬ 
plete  their  Number  sooner  than  any  that  coud.  be  ap¬ 
pointed  in  their  Room  I  shall  be  Glad  to  let  you 
know  how  Matters  goes  with  me  and  have  your  ad¬ 
vice  every  oppertunity  and  am  with  Respect  Sir 
yours  &c 

Wm  McKee 

To  Col°.  William  Fleming  Bellmont  By  favour  Capt  Jn°. 
Stuart 


INDIANS  RAIDING 

[John  Cook  to  Capt.  Andrew  Hamilton.  3ZZ7 —  A.  L.  S.] 

October  2d.  1776 

Sr. — This  minet  I  Recd.  Express  from  Clover  Lick 
which  is  an  exact  Copy  of  an  Express  from  fort  Pite 
[Pitt]  from  Major  Nevel  at  [to]  Point  Plisent,  which 
gives  the  folowing  acount  viz  that  there  is  four  Com¬ 
pany  s  of  Indians  Gon  out  in  order  for  Ware  Cap1 
Pluggy  and  one  Compney  is  Gon  for  Centuck47  tow 

47  In  consequence  of  the  capture  of  the  girls  at  Boones- 
borough,  and  other  depredations  during  the  summer,  all  the 
stations  of  Kentucky  broke  up  save  three,  Boonesborough, 


2  o6 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Compnys  Crosed  the  ohigho  at  ye  mough  of  Hock- 
hocken  which  is  aloud  to  strick  at  Greenbrier  one 
Compv  Crosd.  higher  up  ye  River  which  is  to  strick 
on  the  head  of  the  west  fork48  or  som  of  those  waters, 
there  is  sixty  Indens  in  Noumber  as  Pr  Express 
their  is  not  the  Lest  apperance  of  a  treaty  at  Fort 
Pite  for  ther  is  not  above  forty  Indens  there  and 
those  old  Indens  and  squas  and  it  is  the  genarel  opin* 
on  of  all  the  Traders  and  Interpetars  that  ther  will 
be  a  General  Ware  the  Express  Was  dated  the  25th 
of  Sept  and  brought  up  by  Cap1  may  and  he  De- 
sirs  the  Inhabitantes  to  have  the  militia  in  the  Best 
order  they  Cane  for  the<r  Defence  sent  from  fort 
Pite  by  Stephen  Radcaff 

I  am  sr  your  hum1  sar1 

Jn°  Cook 

N.  B.  you  are  by  the  Express  to  send  an  Express 
to  Cap1.  Stawert  so  that  all  the  Country  my  Gate 
Warning 

ther  ough[t]  to  be  an  Express  sent  to  Co1.  Flem¬ 
ing  as  this  may  be  Depended  on. 

Capt.  Andw.  Hamilton 

Harrodsburgh,  and  McClelland’s.  It  was  estimated  that  fully 
three  hundred  settlers  left  the  country,  and  went  back  to  the 
settlements.  George  Rogers  Clark  and  John  Gabriel  Jones, 
delegates  from  the  Kentucky  settlements  to  the  Virginia  legis¬ 
lature,  secured  an  advance  of  five  hundred  pounds  of  powder 
to  protect  the  new  settlements,  and  conveyed  it  down  the  Ohio, 
landing  at  Limestone.  A  party  marching  in  from  there  with 
part  of  the  powder,  was  attacked  by  Pluggy’s  gang  near  the 
Lower  Blue  Licks,  on  Christmas  day,  two  men  being  killed, 
including  the  leader  Jones,  and  two  captured.  Four  days  later 
the  Indians  attacked  McClelland’s  Station,  but  were  repulsed 
after  losing  their  leader,  Captain  Pluggy.  See  Draper  MSS., 
4B100-110. — Ed. 

48  The  west  branch  of  Monongahela  River  was  then  the  out¬ 
ward  limit  of  settlement  in  that  region. — Ed. 


HOSTILE  RAIDS 


20  7 


[Col.  Dorsey  Pentecost  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.  4NN28 

A.  L.  S.] 

October  16^  1776 

Sir — I  am  from  the  late  Hostilities  being  commit¬ 
ted  on  the  Inhabitants  by  the  Indians,  I  have  thought 
proper  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Committee  of 
this  County  &  a  Council  of  War  held  this  Day  for  that 
Purpose.  I  have  thought  Proper  to  appoint  you  to  the 
Command  of  a  Company  to  be  Imployed  for  the  De¬ 
fence  and  Protection  of  the  Inhabitants,  I  therefore  or¬ 
der  that  you  draft  Ten  Men  of  your  Company  and  you 
will  be  joined  by  a  Lieu11  &  10  Men  from  Caph  Vir¬ 
gins49  Company,  an  Ensign  &  10  Men  from  Capt.  Ow¬ 
en’s  Company,  a  Serjant  &  10  Men  from  Captain  Enoch 
Enoch’s50  Company,  and  a  Sarjh  and  10  Men  from 
Captain  Hargess’s  Company,  which  you  will  Take 
the  Command  of,  and  march  with  all  posible  Expe¬ 
dition,  to  the  mouth  of  Fishing  Creek  on  the  Ohio,51 


49  Reazin  Virgin  was  appointed  a  militia  captain  of  Ohio 
County  in  January,  1777.  He  lived  in  what  is  now  Fayette 
County,  Pa.,  and  in  1780  removed  and  located  four  hundred 
acres  in  Franklin  Township,  Washington  County.  The  Draper 
MSS.  contain  several  receipts,  with  his  signature,  for  powder 
and  provisions  down  to  1780. — Ed. 

50  David  Owens  was  captain  of  a  company  of  rangers. 
Henry  Enoch  was  an  early  settler  in  Hampshire  County,  at 

the  forks  of  the  Great  Cacapon  River,  on  the  road  from  Win¬ 
chester  westward.  Here  a  fort  was  erected  in  November,  1755, 
for  the  protection  of  the  settlers,  after  Braddock’s  defeat. 
Washington  stopped  here  on  his  return  from  the  Ohio  in  1770. 
A  Henry  Enoch  signed  several  receipts  at  Fort  Henry,  and  in 
1 777  was  for  a  time  stationed  at  Grave  Creek  fort.  His  brother 
Enoch  lived  in  Amwell  Township,  Washington  County,  Pa., 
then  considered  a  part  of  Virginia. — Ed. 

51  Fishing  Creek  should  not  be  confused  with  Fish  Creek, 
only  a  few  miles  below  Big  Grave  Creek.  The  former  is 


208 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


and  there  make  a  Camp  and  that  you  Scour  up  the 
river  so  as  to  join  the  scouts  that  will  be  sent  down 
from  the  Garrison  of  Grave  Creek,  &  down  the  Ohio 
for  10  or  12  Miles,  and  if  you  find  any  Indians  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Ohio,  which  have  crossed  the 
Ohio  with  Hostile  Intentions  you  will  Treat  them  as 
open  &  avow’d  Enemys,  and  in  Case  of  any  Murder 
being  Committed  on  our  Inhabitants  that  you  use 
your  utmost  Endeavours  to  overtake  and  Chastize 
them,  and  I  must  Strictly  injoin  you  to  Cover  & 
Protect  the  Inhabitants  in  the  best  manner  the  Na¬ 
ture  of  the  Case  &  your  Situation  will  admit  of,  and 
in  Case  of  Any  Incursions  being  made  that  you  Sig¬ 
nify  it  to  me  by  the  most  Quickes[t]  Conveyance, 
you  will  take  cear  to  furnish  your  Company  with 
Sufficient  Quantity  of  Provisions,  to  march  them  to 
grave  Creek  where  you  will  receive  Provisions  for 
your  Company,  you  will  use  all  possible  frugality 
in  your  Expense,  wishing  you  a  good  journey,  & 
that  you  may  be  able  to  give  a  good  account  of  those 
Rasculs  that  may  attempt  to  Attack  our  Lives  Lib- 
ertys  or  property,  I  am  Sir  your  Humbe  S* 

Dorsey  Pentecost  C.  L. 

To  Cap*.  Wm.  Harrod 

twenty-six  miles  below  Grave  Creek,  and  comes  in  from  the 
West  Virginia  side,  with  the  town  of  New  Martinsville  at  its 
mouth. — Ed. 


HOSTILE  RAIDS 


209 


PROVISIONS  FOR  PORT  RANDOLPH 

[Andrew  Donnally  and  Archer  Matthews  to  Col.  William 

Fleming.  1U41  —  L.  S .] 

Novr.  Ist.  1776 

we  have  Purchased  a  large  Drove  of  Cattle  & 
hoggs  for  the  use  of  the  men  at  the  Point  &  our 
Instructions  from  Co1.  Harison52  is  to  ap[p]ly  to  you 
for  a  guard.  We  shall  be  Ready  to  Start  from  here 
the  twelfth  of  this  Instant  &  we  think  their  may  be 
men  Got  here  if  you  think  Proper  by  taking  a  Small 
Part  out  of  Each  Company  with  Part  of  Caph  Giv¬ 
ens  Company,  we  shall  be  glad  you  would  Send 
Instructions  to  us  as  Soon  as  Posible,  as  it  apears 
two  Dangerous  to  go  without  a  guard  &  may  be  of 
a  great  loss  to  the  Country 

Slr  We  Remain  your  Hume.  Servt8. 

Andw.  Donely  & 
Arch*.  Mathews 

To  Col°.  Wm.  Fleming,  pr  Express 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS 

[Col.  William  Fleming  to  Donnally  and  Matthews.  1U42 — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Sirs — Yours  of  Novr.  l8t.  came  to  hand  by  the 
Messenger  from  Fort  Charles.  I  expect  Instructions 
every  day  from  Wmsburg  relative  to  the  Continuance 
of  the  Men  on  Our  Frontiers  till  that  reaches  me  I 

52  Probably  Benjamin  Harrison,  later  of  Rockingham,  for 
whom  see  Dunmore’s  War ,  p.  272,  note  87. — Ed. 

14 


210 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


cannot  send  you  positive  Instructions  with  regard  to 
the  Escort.  Nor  have  you  mentioned  what  Number 
you  think  might  be  necessary.  It  is  my  Oppinion  that 
those  Indians  who  scalp’d  the  Men  at  the  Point  & 
fired  on  the  Party  near  Hockhoking53  were  the  same 
that  did  the  damage  at  Wheeling54  &  were  on  their 
Return  if  so  they  are  gon  home,  &  the  dainger  in 
going  to  the  Point  may  not  be  great.  However  as 
You  do  not  design  to  Start  before  the  12th.  I  shall 
have  it  in  my  power  to  write  you  particularly  before 
then.  I  am  Sir  &c 

Wm  Fleming 
Novr  3.  1776 

Donaly  &  Mathews 


53  Pentecost  gives  a  full  description  of  this  event  in  his  let¬ 
ter  of  Nov.  5  to  Patrick  Henry,  post.  The  party  was  under 
the  charge  of  Robert  Patterson,  afterwards  of  Lexington,  Ky. 
Patterson  went  to  Kentucky  in  1775,  and  in  1776  was  in  com¬ 
mand  of  a  party  of  seven,  returning  up  the  Ohio,  carrying 
despatches  to  the  commander  at  Wheeling.  They  passed  Point 
Pleasant  .in  safety,  but  during  the  night  of  the  nth  or  12th  of 
October  were  fired  upon  near  the  mouth  of  Hockhocking 
River.  Patterson  was  one  of  those  severely  wounded,  and  lay 
in  the  woods  eight  days  until  rescued  by  a  party  from  the 
Grave  Creek  fort.  See  his  pension  statement,  Draper  MSS., 
1M1.  The  names  of  his  men  were  David  Perry,  Isaac  Green, 
James  Templeton,  James  Wernock,  and  Joseph  McNutt,  of 
whom  the  last  two  were  killed. — Ed. 

54  The  Pennsylvania  Gazette  of  Nov.  6,  1776,  contains  the 
following:  “Williamsburg,  Va.,  Oct.  25. — By  a  gentleman 
from  Fort  Pitt  we  learn,  that  eleven  settlers  at  the  mouth  of 
Wheeling,  about  fifty  miles  below  that  post,  were  killed  by 
the  Tawahs,  Wyandots,  Mingoes,  and  other  disaffected  In¬ 
dians,  on  the  9th  of  this  instant.”  This  is  doubtless  an  exag¬ 
gerated  report  of  the  killing  of  two  women  and  capture  of  a 
boy,  mentioned  by  Pentecost,  post. — Ed. 


HOSTILE  RAIDS 


211 


[Capt.  Matthew  Arbuckle  to  Capt.  John  Stuart.  1U40  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Fort  Randolph  Novr.  2d  1776 
Sir — I  think  it  my  Duty  to  acquaint  you  with  every 
Particular  relative  to  Indian  affairs  as  they  occur 
to  me  here  in  hopes  what  information  I  can  give  you 
may  be  a  great  means  of  giving  you  Satisfaction 
Besides  securing  you  from  Danger.  Since  I  wrote 
you  last  I  immediately  after  that  accident  Sent  two 
Spies  cross  the  Ohio  with  orders  not  to  return  for 

ten  Days  without  making  some  Discovery  -  Nine 

of  which  elapsed  without  any.  But  Yesterday  (which 
was  the  tenth)  as  they  were  returning  about  a  Mile 
from  the  Ohio  Bank  just  opposite  this  fort  they  saw 
some  Indian  Signs  &  was  immediately  fired  on  by  an 
Indian  not  above  eight  yards  Distance.  Just  at  the 
very  moment  the  foremost  of  the  Spies  was  jerking 
his  Gun  off  his  shoulder  in  order  to  Shoot  &  the  In¬ 
dian  Bullet  took  the  Box  of  his  Gun  (just  Opposite 
his  Breast)  &  lodged  there  the  Spy  received  very 
little  Damage  only  grazed  on  the  Arm  in  two  or  three 
Places  either  by  Part  of  the  Bullet  or  of  the  Box 
lid — — Such  as  Buck  Shot  might  have  done  The 
Spies  Shot  at  him  as  soon  as  Possible  Both,  &  he 
feil  But  recovered  immediately  &  he  &  his  Partners 
Cleared  them  selves  as  quick  as  Possible,  with  the 
loss  of  his  Shot  Pouch  Powder  horn  &  many  other 
little  articles  the  Damnd.  Savages  had  the  assur¬ 
ance  to  Camp  there  within  a  Mile  of  this  Fort  but 
on  their  own  Side  of  the  River,  they  were  so  Pro¬ 
vident  as  to  Bring  a  String  for  a  Prisoner  but  un- 


212 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


luckily  lost  it  in  the  fray  along  with  the  other  Arti¬ 
cles.  I  intend  keeping  out  Spies  both  up,  Down,  & 
over  the  Ohio  Constantly  &  shall  always  endeavour 
to  Protect  the  Inhabitants  on  the  Frontiers  to  the 
utmost  of  my  power  I  hope  you  will  inform  me  Par¬ 
ticularly  what  Success  we  have  had  against  the  Cher- 
olcees  as  soon  as  Convenient,  we  are  not  Certain 
what  Nation  of  Indians  they  are  of;  whom  our  Spies 
Defeated  but  they  Suppose  them  to  be  either  Shaw- 
nies  or  Mingoes. 

I  am  Sir  your  very  Hble.  Serv1 

Matthew  Arbuckle 

P.  S.  you  will  much  Oblige  me  by  giving  Mrs. 
Arbuckle  an  acch  from  me  at  this  Place  as  soon  as 
Convenient. 

[To  Capt.  John  Stewart.  Green  brier.] 


[Col.  Dorsey  Pentecost  to  Gov.  Patrick  Henry.  Draper’s 
combined  summary  and  transcript  from  Virginia  State 
Records,  in  Draper  MSS.,  13S190,  191.] 

West  Augusta,  Nov.  5,  1776. 
He  is  exerting  himself  to  defend  &  protect  the 
people,  has  one  company  at  mouth  of  Fishing  creek 
&  another  on  the  heads  of  Dunkerd  &  Middle  Island 
Creeks  ;55  speaks  of  the  cruel  depredations  “of  the 
infernal,  relentless  band  of  Mingoes. 

55  Dunkard  Creek  is  a  Western  affluent  of  the  Mononga- 
hela,  embouching  in  Greene  County,  Pa.  A  famous  Indian 
war-road  led  up  Fish  Creek  and  along  Dunkard,  hence  the 


HOSTILE  RAIDS 


213 


“On  the  9th  of  October  two  women  were  killed  at 
the  mouth  of  Fish  Creek,  &  a  little  boy  taken  pris¬ 
oner.  The  husbands  of  the  women  were  in  canoes 
moving  home  from  the  fort  at  Grave  Creek ;  one  of 
the  men  upon  hearing  the  women  fired  on,  ran  ashore 
&  discharged  his  gun  at  one  of  the  Indians,  &  it  is 
thought  wounded  him,  as  the  party  that  went  to 
bury  the  dead  the  next  day,  found  near  where  he 
stood  three  bags  of  paint,  a  hoppus,  a  pair  of  moc- 
casons,  a  looking  glass  &  a  head  dress. 

“On  the  11th  of  ,  the  same  month,  seven  men  on 
their  return  from  Caintuck  were  fired  on  in  their 
camp  nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  ,  Hockhocking ; 
one  was  killed  on  the  spot  &  scalped ;  one  shot 
through  with  two  bullets,  of  which  he  died  the  next 
day;  two>  of  the  men  had  an  arm  broken  each,  one 
slightly  wounded,  the  other  two  not  hurt.  When  the 
men  awaked,  the  Indians  were  amongst  them  with 
their  tomahawks  and  war  clubs ;  a  ,  scuffie  ensued, 
but  the  Indians  being  prepared  &  having  the  advan¬ 
tage  the  men  were  obliged  to  run,  one  was  cut  with 
a  tomahawk  by  the  side  of  his  back  bone  to  the  hol¬ 
low  of  his  body,  another  cut  under  the  shoulder  to 
the  ribs.  After  plundering  the  camp,  they  crossed 
the  river.  One  of  the  well  men  ran  back  to  Fort 
Randolph,  the  other  (Edward  Mitchell)  a  near  neigh¬ 
bor  of  mine,  sent  the  person  who  was  slightly 
wounded  up  to  Grave  Creek,  &  hid  the  wounded  in 

white  settlers  in  that  district  were  especially  exposed  to 
depredations. 

Middle  Island  Creek  rises  in  Doddridge  County,  W.  Va., 
and  enters  the  Ohio  in  Pleasants,  about  twenty-five  miles  be¬ 
low  Fishing  Creek. — Ed. 


214 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


an  obscure  place  &  sustained  them  nine  days  upon 
paw  paws.  The  Captain  of  the  militia  stationed  at 
Grave  Creek,  with  33  men  of  his  own  company, 
joined  with  an  Ensign  &  12  men  of  the  Regulars  at 
Wheeling,  went  down,  &  four  days  ago  came  up 
with  the  wounded,  who  are  likely  to  do  well.” 
Speaks  of  Indian  sign  being  seen  all  over  the  upper 
Ohio  region,  &  the  people  forted,  scouts  &  spies  out, 
&c.,  houses  &  corn  fields  destroyed  where  deserted. 


NEWS  FROM  WILLIAMSBURGH 

[Capt.  William  McKee  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  1U39  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Honour^.  Sir — Yours  by  Cap1.  Stuart  only  came 
to  hand  last  Night ‘  on  my  Return  from  Willmsburg 
at  wc  place  I  have  been  to  Receive  the  advance  for 
my  Compy  and  some  ‘Necessary  Disbursements  I 
have  Just  Recd  an  acc1.  of  the  safe  arrival  of  the  De¬ 
tachment  I  sent  to  Fort  Randolph  I  Intend  March¬ 
ing  another  Detachment  of  between  40  &  50  Monday 
n[oon]  (God  Willing)  Under  two  Subalterns  (viz) 
[MS.  torn]  and  Gilmore.  And  shall  now  make  an 
application  to  you 'for  about  an  Equal  [quantity  of 
Powder  you  sent  before  (viz)  20lb  [Ms.  tom]  to 
Each  Man  near  J4lb  wc  I  think  is  little  [enough]  w* 
I  hope  youll  Be  kind  Enough  to  Send  by  the  bearer 
John  Moor  from  the  Same  Cask  you  sent  the  other. 
Dear  Sir  after  Informing  you  of  my  being  at  the 
Metropolis  you  think  strange  if  I  had  no  News  to 


AT  WILLIAMS  BURGH 


215 


Impart  Indeed  Sir  News  are  not  so  plenty  there 
as  they  Rather  Expect  some  Important  News  from 
our  Quarter  Relative  to  our  Expedition  Southwes¬ 
terly  God  Grant  they  may  be  Good  and  I  hope  thay 
will  From  New  York  nothing  of  Importance  has 
Transpird,  some  Private  1  Letters  say  Howe  has  sent 

or  Gone  up  the  North  River  ten  thousand  Men 

above  General  Washingtons  lines  and  from  that  move¬ 
ment  some  Decissive  Stroke  is  Expected.  The  affair 
of  Ticonderoga  wc  I  Suppose  you  have  heard  of  had 
not  arrivd.  there  last  Saturday  If  that  is  true  its.  an 
Important  Blow.  But  I  coud.  wish  it  were  better 

Confirmd.  Some  French  Vessels  have  lately  arrived 

and  a  Prize  of  Considerable  Value.  Some  Private 
Intelligence  have  been  Recd.  by  the  Assembly  with  wc 
they  appear  well  pleased  but  they  keep  it  a  profound 
secret.  Col0.  Bland  Died  Suddenly  of  an  appoplexy 
last  Saturday  Morning  having  the  Day  before  De¬ 
clared  himself  warmly  in  favour  of  Establishment54 
That  Affair  is  to  be  Decided  the  11th  Instant  the  Ma¬ 
jority  both  in‘&  out  of  Doors  Seem  [to]  be  for 
breaking  it.  I  heard  a  long  Debate  in  the  House 
about  a  Bill  for  Docking  Entails.  But  it  Carried  by 

56  Col.  Richard  Bland  (1710-76),  a  prominent  patriot,  had 
opposed  the  stamp  act.  A  representative  of  Virginia  in  Con¬ 
gress,  he  had  been  a  leader  during  the  stirring  days  of  the 
early  Revolution.  Like  most  of  the  older  statesmen  he  was 
a  conservative  on  the  subject  of  religious  liberty.  The  major 
portion  of  the  legislative  session  of  the  autumn  of  1776  was 
occupied  with  discussion  of  the  question  of  an  established 
church.  An  act  was  passed  November  19  exempting  dissenters 
from  paying  tithes  for  the  established  church.  Complete  re¬ 
ligious  liberty,  however,  was  not  secured  until  the  passage 
in  1785  of  Jefferson’s  bill  for  religious  liberty. — Ed. 


2l6 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


a  great  Majority.  The  most  Important  thing  the 
House  was  about  when  I  left  the  City  was  a  Bill  for 
Raising  five  new  Battalions  in  this  Commonwealth 
agreeable  to  a  Resolve  of  Congress  and  fixing  the 
Regular  advancement  of  officers  in  the  old  Battalions 
and  the  appointment  of  Field  officers,  our  Troops 
on  the  Ohio  are  Regimented  Col0.  Crawford  to  have 
the  Command  and  to  be  compleated  to  a  full  Battal¬ 
ion  During  the  war  if  the  Men  are  willing.57  The 
Compys  of  one  Hundred  Men  are  to  be  Reduced  to 
68  Rank  &  file  &  those  of  50  Raised  to  that  Quota. 
But  I  am  to  Continue  to  Recruit  Under  the  former 
ordinance  till  further  orders  I  have  now  above  68. 
Many  other  things  of  a  Political  Nature  begin  to 
Crowd  themselves  into  my  Imagination  not  worth 
communicating  I  am  Dear  Sir  your  Friend  &  Hble 
servt. 

Wm  McKee 

Nov  2d.  1776 


TREATY  OF  17  76 

[Summary  of  a  letter  from  Col.  George  Morgan  to  the  Presi¬ 
dent  of  Congress,  dated  Nov.  8,  1776,  in  Amer.  Archives, 
5th  series,  iii,  pp.  599,  600.] 

The  cloud  which  has  threatened  to  break  over  this 
part  of  the  country  has  now  dispersed.58  The  Six  Na- 

57  This  is  the  well-known  13th  (or  West  Augusta)  regiment 
of  the  Virginia  continental  forces. — Ed. 

68  Morgan  appears  to  have  been  too  sanguine,  or  too  politic, 
to  admit  the  continued  dangers.  In  a  letter  to  Dorsey  Pente¬ 
cost,  written  Nov.  17,  1776,  he  takes  the  latter  to  task  for  ex- 


IROQUOIS  PEACEFUL 


217 


tions,  Delawares,  Shawnee,  Munsee,  and  Mahican  en¬ 
voys  have  assembled  here  to  the  number  of  six  hundred 
and  forty-four,  and  promised  inviolable  peace  with  the 
United  States,  and  neutrality  during  the  war  with 
Great  Britain.  The  perpetrators  of  all  the  recent  mis¬ 
chief  are  a  band  formerly  situated  near  Cross  Creeks, 
on  the  Ohio,  but  now  removed  to  the  heads  of  the 
Scioto. 

Recent  murders  reported  are  of  two  women  at  Fish 
Creek,  where  a  boy  is  missing,  one  man  killed  and 
four  wounded  opposite  Hockhocking  River,  and  two 
soldiers  killed  and  scalped  not  far  from  Fort  Ran¬ 
dolph. 

Several  chiefs  have  accepted  the  invitation  to  visit 
Congress,  which  is  a  further  proof  of  their  peaceable 
disposition.59 


citing  alarm;  see  Bausman,  History  of  Beaver  County ,  i,  p. 
7 1.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  Western  tribes  were  absent  from 
the  treaty — the  Wyandot,  Chippewa,  Miami,  and  Ottawa.  Mur¬ 
ders  continued  to  be  committeed ;  see  Hildreth,  Pioneer  His¬ 
tory,  pp.  in,  1 13,  and  Pentecost’s  letters,  post.  In  December 
two  scouts  were  overtaken  near  Bridgeport,  Ohio,  opposite 
Wheeling,  one  being  killed  and  the  other  captured ;  see  J.  H. 
Newton,  History  of  the  Panhandle  of  West  Virginia  (Wheel¬ 
ing,  1879),  p.  97— Ed. 

59  Twelve  chiefs  were  taken  to  Philadelphia  at  an  expense 
of  nearly  twelve  hundred  dollars.  They  were  introduced  on 
Dec.  7,  when  a  pacificatory  speech  was  made,  to  which,  two 
days  later,  they  made  an  unimportant  response.  See  Journals 
of  Congress  (new  ed.),  v,  pp.  1010,  ion,  1013. — Ed. 


2l8 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


HOSTILITIES  IMMINENT 

[Col.  Dorsey  Pentecost  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.  4NN34  — 
transcript,  probably  in  Harrod’s  handwriting.] 

Nov  12  th  1776 

Sir — I  am  now  at  Cap.  Wells  upper  station60  and 
did  Intend  as  Low  as  yours  but  the  Comissarry  is  so 
Low  that  I  Expect  that  he  will  Not  Live  and  I  have 
a  grate  deal  of  Business  to  Settel  with  him  which 
will  purvent  my  '  Coming  Down  I  am  tharefore  to 
advise  you  that  Detroyt  and  niagara  are  Reinforced 
and  a  Runner  from  S1  duskay  arived  Last  Friday  with 
A  letter  which  I  Saw  Informing  that  they  Expect  that 
that  place  will  be  fortified  and  garrisoned61  this  Win- 

60  Richard  and  Alexander  Wells  emigrated  from  Baltimore 
County,  Md.,  to  the  waters  of  Cross  Creek,  W.  Va.,  about 
1 772. — Ed. 

61  As  a  locality  Sandusky  was  known  from  the  earliest  occu¬ 
pation  of  the  country,  a  portage  being  made  from  the  river  of 
that  name  to  the  upper  waters  of  the  Scioto.  The  first  recorded 
settlement  of  Indians  was  that  following  the  secession  of  the 
Huron  (Wyandot)  chief  Nicolas,  who  went  thither  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Detroit  about  1745,  with  the  purpose  of  trad¬ 
ing  with  the  English.  Gradually  a  considerable  number  of  the 
Wyandot  settled  upon  the  bay  and  river  of  Sanduskv.  A  trad¬ 
ing  house  was  established  (1750)  on  the  south  shore  of  the 
bay,  which  is  sometimes  alluded  to  as  the  “old  French  fort.” 
It  does  not,  however,  appear  to  have  been  a  settled  post,  and 
apparently  was  abandoned  before  1759.  In  1761  the  English 
had  a  blockhouse  built  on  the  south  shore  of  the  bay,  which 
was  garrisoned  by  thirty  men.  These  were  massacred  in 
May,  1763,  and  their  commander,  Ensign  Paully,  taken  cap¬ 
tive.  The  following  July,  Captain  Dalzell  took  vengeance  by 
burning  the  Wyandot  lower  town.  These  Wyandot  towns  as¬ 
sumed  much  importance  during  the  Revolution,  but  there 
seems  to  be  no  evidence  that  the  proposed  British  fort  and 
garrison  was  ever  established.  During  the  War  of  1812-15 
Lower  Sandusky  was  fortified,  and  the  gallant  defense  of  Fort 
Stephenson  is  an  heroic  incident  in  the  annals  of  the  Western 
border. — Ed. 


HOSTILITIES  IMMINENT 


219 


ter  and  in  the  Spring  as  the  Winedots  Cockinwaugau 
Mingows  &c  are  now  Concluding  thare  to  Attack  us 
in  three  Different  placess :  Viz  Fort  Pitt  Fort  Ran- 
dulph  and  Som  place  betwixt  and  that  thare  is  now 
A  party  Out  which  Intend  Strikeing  us  About  now  in 
Order  to  Lay  it  on  the  Deleways  and  Shawneways  as 
the[y]  Return  from  the  P  [ itt]  treaty  and  Brake  the 
Peace  between  us  and  them  I  am  tharefore  to  ad¬ 
vise  you  to  keep  up  Strick  gard  and  if  aney  Indians 
Appears  on  our  side  you  are  to  Chastise  them  in  the 
Best  manner  you  Can  and  Look  on  them  as  Open  and 
Avowed  enemise.  fore  the  deliways  and  Shanaways 
are  not  so  mutch  as  to  put  ashore  on  our  Side  Except 
thare  Intended  to  Come  to  Your  Camp  then  tha  are 
to  Hollow  over  and  you  are  to  go  and  fetch  them  and 
then  you  are  to  treat  them  Civelly  9  of  the  Chiefs 
are  gon  to  set  in  the  Congress  3  of  the  Senekays 
also  are  gone  the  Latter  I  think  Nothing  of.  tha  de- 
sire  to  go  to  War  with  us  and  have  declared  an  Inde¬ 
pendency  from  the  Six  Nations.  I  have  sent  down 
an  Acount  of  the  Melitia  with  the  Comisoners  to  the 
Congress  who  Intend  we  shall  be  paid  by  the  Con- 
tenent.  The  Governor  has  Aprouved  of  my  Conduct 
in  regard  of  the  Melitia  and  has  left  it  to  me  how 
many  Men  Should  be  kept  to  Cover  the  Settlements 
and  the  Comisiners  have  Left  the  time  of  dischargeing 
them  to  me  Likewise  if  no  Acodents  happens  lie  keep 
up  the  Stations  till  About  the  10th  of  the  Next 
Month. 

I  was  Informed  a  Numbers  of  peopel  has  Combined 
to  Cross  the  Ohio  and  kill  some  of 'the  Indians  on 
thire  Return  from  the  treaty  An  action  of  this  kind 


220 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


would  forever  Distroy  the  faith  the  Indians  harbour 
of  us  and  as  a  war  is  Sartin  from  the  Nor  rad  [North¬ 
ward]  Indians  in  the  spring  I  think  we  Should  keep 
the  Nabouring  Indians  as  mutch  in  our  favour  as  pos- 
sable  I  tharefore  desire  and  Require  you  if  you 
should  find  that  aney  Should  Attempt  the  Like  you 
Exert  your  Power  to  frustrate  it. 

Dorsey  Pentecost 

on  the  Publick  Sarvis 

To  Capt  William  Harrod  Fishing  Creek 


PRECAUTIONARY  ORDERS 

[Dorsey  Pentecost  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.  4NN36  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

November  21st  1776 

Sir — I  am  glad  to  hear  you  are  safely  arrived  and 
fixed  at  your  Station,  but  am  Sorry  to  hear  your 
drafts  did  not  fully  appear,  but  I  have  now  taken 
cear  [care]  to  furnish  them  &  they  will  Soon  be  with 
you.  I  am  Exceeding  sorry  to  hear  of  the  misfortune 
of  Row's  boys,62  I  am  to  beg  that  you  do  evrything 
in  your  Power  to  Serve  your  Country  in  whose  abili¬ 
ties  I  place  the  greatest  confidence  in  your  abilities, 
all  the  fear  I  have  for  you  is  that  you  will  be  toe 
rash,  I  am  strictly  to  recommend  to  you  that  you  are 
cearful  and  use  good  Oeconomy  and  dont  be  too  Ven¬ 
turesome,  but  Keep  a  good  look  out  for  I  am  really 

62  Not  far  from  the  garrison  at  Grave  Creek,  about  the  mid¬ 
dle  of  September,  two  sons  of  Adam  Rowe  were  set  upon  by 
Indians,  the  elder  being  killed,  and  the  younger  captured;  see 
letter  of  Pentecost  in  Bausman,  Beaver  County ,  i,  p.  72. — Ed. 


TAKING  PRECAUTIONS 


221 


apprehensive  you  are  in  great  danger,  and  if  you  find 
any  Indians  on  our  side  the  river  Treat  them  as  Open 
and  avowed  Enemies  &  do  Every  thing  in  your  power 
to  Protect  the  Inhabitants  and  your  selves,  &  I  rec¬ 
ommend  that  you  build  some  Snug  close  Little  garri¬ 
son  for  your  Own  Defence,  and  you  will  be  Supplied 
with  Provision  by  Mr  Shepherd.  Col°  Cannon  will 
be  with  you  in  a  few  days.63  I  have  ordered  another 
Company  to  the  mouth  of  fish  Creek  your  duty  will 
then  be  much  easier.  I  rest  assured  of  your  best  En¬ 
deavours  and  am  Dr  Bill 

Your  Very  Hle  Send 

Dorsey  Pentecost 

P.  S.  no  man  is  to  be  suffered  to  leave  the  Post 
untill  they  are  releved  by  others  under  the  Severest 
Penalty  and  it  is  my  Positive  orders  that  you  do  not 
suffer  your  men  to  Cross  the  river  to  hunt  under  no 
pertence  whatsoever 


[Col.  John  Canon’s  orders  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.  4NN38  — 

A.  D.  S.] 


December  7th  1776 

1.  you  are  to  keep  up  a  Recular  Sargents  Gard  Ex¬ 
cept  where  it  makes  the  Dutey  Too  hard  by  sending 

63  Col.  John  Canon  removed  to  the  Western  country  early  in 
1774.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  Augusta  County,  and 
colonel  of  militia  for  its  western  district,  being  thus  next  in 
rank  to  Pentecost.  Upon  the  erection  of  Yohogania  County, 
he  held  the  same  position.  In  1787  he  laid  out  the  town  of 
Canonsburg,  where  he  became  concerned  in  the  Whiskey  Re¬ 
bellion.  Colonel  Canon  founded  the  academy  that  became  Jef¬ 
ferson  College,  and  died  at  his  Canonsburg  residence  in 
1799- — Ed. 


222 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


out  men  to  Gard  the  Inhabitants  in  that  Case  you 
must  keep  as  good  a  Gard  as  you  Can. 

2.  you  are  not  to  suffer  any  man  to  Exempt  him¬ 
self  from  his  Dute  or  Leave  his  Post  with  out  your 
Leave  or  the  Leave  of  the  oficer  first  in  Command  in 
your  Absence  and  that  furlows  be  only  given  in  Rale 
Case  of  Necesaty, 

3  you  are  not  to  sufer  any  of  your  men  to  make  it 
Practice  of  s[h]uteing  About  the  Garrison  without 
your  knoladge  or  '  Acquanting  the  Garison  As  Evry 
such  Brach  of  orders  will  be  Looked  ypon  as  an 
Alarm. 

4  you  are  to  Assist  the  Inhabitants  with  what  Guard 
you  Can  Spare  with  Prudence  for  the  Safety  of  the 
Garrison  to  Anable  them  to  Save  their  Crops, 

5  you  are  to  Send  Such  Scouts  as  you  Can  Spare 
from  the  garison  to  Recuniter  the  River  up  and  Down 
as  far  as  the[y]  Can  Return  the  Same  Day,  and  not 
to  sufer  them  to  neglect  their  Dutey  in  Hunting  or 
other  wise. 

6  If  any  Discoverys  Should  be  mad[e]  or  mischief 
Done  you  are  to  Signify  it  to  the  next  field  oficer  with 
all  Possible  Despatch, 

As  the  Dutey  we  ow  to  our  Creator  Should  never 
be  neglected  I  hope  Sir  you  will  not  Sufer  men  to 
Practice  of  prefain  Swareing  or  Brackng  the  Sabat 
Day  by  hunting  or  other  wise 

8  and  as  I  hope  Evry  man  here  Come  for  the  Se¬ 
curity  and  protection  of  their  Cuntry  and  as  it  is  the 
gratest  honour  a  Solder  can  have  to  obay  the  Com¬ 
mands  of  their  oficers,  I  hope  there  will  be  no  Com¬ 
plaints  on  that  Account, 


TAKING  PRECAUTIONS 


223 


9  you  are  to  proseed  to  Inclouse  your  self  with 
some  Kind  of  a  fort  as  Soon  as  you  Can  get  Horse 
and  the  Assistance  of  the  Inhabitants, 

10  you  are  to  see  that  the  men  Perade  Dayley  and 
Endeavour  to  Larn  their  'Exe[r]  rises. 

John  Canon 

General  orders  to  Capt.  William  Herod 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEFENSE 

[Summary  of  a  letter  from  Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  Dor- 
sey  Pentecost,  in  Crumrine,  History  of  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania ,  p.  185.] 

This  letter,  dated  Williamsburgh,  Dec.  13,  1776, 
states  that  the  danger  of  hostilities  in  the  spring  should 
cause  measures  to  be  taken  to  prepare  the  militia  to 
act  in  the  most  efficient  manner.  Magazines  are  to 
be  erected  in  Yohogania,  Monongalia,  and  Ohio  coun¬ 
ties,54  lead  has  been  ordered  sent  to  the  frontier,  and 
Captain  Gibson’s  cargo  of  powder  is  expected.  Spies 
should  be  kept  out,  and  arms  and  accoutrements  put 
in  the  best  possible  order. 

64  In  October,  1776,  the  Virginia  assembly  defined  the  lim¬ 
its  of  West  Augusta  district,  at  the  same  time  dividing  it  into 
three  counties,  Ohio,  Yohogania,  and  Monongalia.  For  their 
militia  officers  see  post. — Ed. 


224 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


SITUATION  AT  GRAVE  CREEK 

[The  inhabitants  of  Grave  Creek  to  Capt.  William  Harrod. 

4NN44  —  A.  D.  S.] 

Sir — we  the  Subscribers  finding  it  impossible  to  De¬ 
fend  ourselves  against  the  Common  Enemy  of  this 
Country  by  the  Militia’s  being  drawn  away  from  this 
Garrison  &  if  we  do  not  Get  Some  Assistance  Imme¬ 
diately  we  will  be  obliged  to  Quit  this  place  it  being 
the  frontier  fort  &  so  near  to  the  savage  that  we  hope 
you  will  be  so  Kind  as  to  Get  as  many  of  Your  men 
as  you  Can  to  Stay  to  outr  Assistance  as  'we  under¬ 
stand  you  have  a  very  great  Influence  over  your  men 
and  as  there  is  not  any  particular  Orders  for  men  to 
be  Stationed  at  this  place  David  Shephard  Esqr.  will 
find  you  &  your  men  provisions  while  you  stay  here 
&  we  flatter  ourselves  At  the  same  time  that  the  Com¬ 
missioners  for  paying  the  former  Militia  will  in  no 
ways  refuse  to  pay  you  &  your  men  for  this  Service 
done  the  Country  as  well  as  those  done  by  the  former 
Capts  at  this  Place  Sr.  your  Complyance  in  this  re¬ 
quest  will  very  much  oblige  yr.  very  Humble  Servants 

Grave  Creek  fort 

2<*  January  1777 

Yates  Conwele 
James  Williams 
Matthew  Karr 
Joseph  Tomlinson 
Stephen  Parr 
David  McClure  ' 

Samuel  Harris  Sen 

To  Cap*  Harrod  at  Grave  Creek 


\ 

Zephaniah  Blackford 
Morgan  Jones 
Charles  McClean 
James  Caldwell 
John  Williams 
William  McMechen 


A  MILITIA  PLEDGE 


22  5 


[Agreement  to  serve  in  the  militia.  4NN45  —  A.  D.  S.j 


We  whose  Names  are  hereunto  Subscribed  do  agree 
to  Join  Cap1  Wm  Herrods  Comp^  and  Serve  under 
him  as  Militia  Soldiers  to  Assist  the  Inhabitants  of 
Grave  Creek  fort  to  Defend  themselves  against  the 
Savages  for  a  Term  of  Time  Not  Exceeding  fifteen 
days  &  as  the  same  is  done  without  proper  orders  we 
do  agree  to  run  the  risk  of  the  Colony’s  paying  us  for 
the  same  he  the  sd  Cap1  Herrod  is  to  make' proper 
Application  if  the  sd  Colony  does  not  pay  the  sd  Cap1 
Herrod  In  behalf  of  us  we  agree  to  Loose  the  same 
provided  that  David  Shepherd  Esqr.  finds  us  provis¬ 
ions  during  the  time  at  his  proper  risk  as  witness 
our  hands  this  2d  day  of  January  1777 


Joseph  McClain 
John  McClain 
James  Harris 
Stephen  Harris 
Thomas  Knox 
George  Knox 
James  McMechen 
Joseph  Alexander 
Adam  Row 
Francis  Purcell 


Paul  Armstrong 
Matthew  Kerr 
Samuel  Stilwell 
John  Boyd 
Michael  Flood 
Joseph  Glen 
Adam  Row  Jun. 
James  Davis 
John  Harkness 
Phillip  O  Finn 


15 


226 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


SUPPLIES  PROM  NEW  ORLEANS 

[Col.  Dorsey  Pentecost  to  Capt  William  Harrod.  4NN46  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Youghiogheny  County  January  28th  1777 
Captain  William  Harrod 

Sir — I  have  received  his  Excellency  the  Governor's 
directions  to  endeavour  to  find  out  where  Captain  Gib¬ 
sons  Cargo  of  Powder  is.65  In  consequence  of  which 
I  am  to  order  that  you  do  with  all  possible  expedition 
raise  a  Company  of  Fifty  privates  in  Conjunction  and 
with  the  assistance  of  Lieutenant  Nathan  Hammond 
and  Ensign  Andrew  Steel,60  with  whom,  and  under 

Capt.  George  Gibson  and  Lieut.  William  Linn  left  Fort 
Pitt  July  19,  177b,  and  reached  New  Orleans  some  time  in 
August.  There,  aided  by  Oliver  Pollock,  they  succeeded  in 
purchasing  ten  thousand  pounds  of  gunpowder  for  $1800.  Gib¬ 
son  was  at  one  time  thrown  into  prison  by  a  concerted  ar¬ 
rangement  with  the  Spanish  governor,  to  mislead  the  British 
spies  in  the  town.  He  got  off  by  ship  in  October,  and  safely 
conveyed  to  Virginia  a  large  portion  of  the  powder. 

Meanwhile,  Lieutenant  Linn,  set  out  Sept.  22,  1776,  to  re¬ 
turn  to  Fort  Pitt  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers. 
He  reached  the  Spanish  post  on  the  Arkansas  Nov.  26,  and 
was  cordially  received  by  its  commandant.  Owing  to  the  ill¬ 
ness  of  his  men  and  the  lack  of  provisions,  he  determined  to 
winter  at  this  post,  hunting  and  drying  meat  for  the  return 
voyage  in  the  spring;  see  his  letter  to  Pollock  from  Arkansas 
Post,  transcribed  in  Draper  MSS.,  60J277.  After  leaving  the 
Arkansas,  Linn  sent  an  express  to  St.  Louis  for  aid ;  but  fear¬ 
ing  the  consequences,  he  hastened  to  pass  the  mouth  of  Ohio 
before  the  appointed  date,  and  later  learned  that  he  thus  es¬ 
caped  capture  by  a  party  of  Indians,  engaged,  no  doubt,  by 
the  Spanish  authorities,  to  intercept  him.  The  powder  and 
boats  were  portaged  by  hand  around  the  Falls  of  the.  Ohio 
(Louisville).  The  British  obtained  information  of  this  ex¬ 
ploit  after  his  passage.  See  Wis.  Hist.  Colls.,  vii,  p.  407. — Ed. 

60  Both  these  officers  had  been  concerned  in  the  first  settle¬ 
ment  of  Kentucky.  Nathan  Hammond  first  visited  that  coun¬ 
try  in  1773.  In  1775  he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Boiling 


SPANISH  POWDER 


227 


your  Command,  you  are  Immediately  to  proceed  down 
the  Ohio,  taking  all  possible  Care  to  examine  Stricktly 
the  mouth  of  all  Creeks  and '  Rivers  which  you  pass, 
&  when  you  arrive  at  the  Mouth  of  Kentucke  or  at 
the  Falls  of  Ohio,  I  think  it  would  be  advisable  to 
send  to  Harrod’s-Burgh,67  and  make  inquiry  after  Cap¬ 
tain  Linn  &  the  said  Cargoe,  whom  you  are  to  con¬ 
duct  with  the  utmost  Safety  agreeable  to  these  In¬ 
structions.  If  you  should  not  fall  in  with  Captain 
Linn  (who  superintends  and  Conducts  the  said  Car¬ 
go)  before  you  arrive  at  the  Mouth  of  Ohio,  I  think 
it  will  be  necessary  that  you  pass  up  the  Mississippi 
to  the  Kaskaskias  Village,68  where  you  will  make  in- 

Springs  settlement,  and  a  delegate  thence  to  the  Transylvania 
legislature  at  Boonesborough.  He  probably  returned  up  the 
Ohio  during  the  alarm  of  1776.  He  was  later  in  Kentucky, 
being  killed  by  the  Indians  before  1780,  probably  on  Ham¬ 
mond’s  Creek  in  Anderson  County. 

Andrew  Steel  was  one  of  the  party  with  Joseph  Lindsay, 
who  re-inforced  Harrodsburgh  in  1775,  and  camped  on  the 
site  of  Lexington.  He  was  recorded  as  a  lot-holder  in  Louis¬ 
ville  in  1779. — Ed. 

67  Linn  sent  overland  to  Harrodsburgh  an  express,  who  ar¬ 
rived  there  March  9,  bringing  needful  succor.  Clark,  in  his 
manuscript  diary,  gives  the  name  of  this  messenger  as  Eben- 
ezer  Corn. — Ed. 

68  It  seems  curious  that  the  American  authorities  should  ex¬ 
pect  to  find  their  cargo  of  supplies  at  a  village  guarded  by  a 
British  post ;  but  doubtless  they  already  counted  on  the  sym¬ 
pathy  of  the  French  habitants  with  the  American  cause,  which 
later  was  of  great  assistance  to  George  Rogers  Clark.  More¬ 
over,  there  were  a  number  of  American  traders  at  the  vil¬ 
lage,  some  of  whom  did  supply  Linn  on  his  return  voyage. 
See  C.  W.  Alvord,  “Cahokia  Records,”  in  Illinois  Historical 
Collections  (Springfield,  1907),  ii,  p.  xxxiii. 

Kaskaskia  was  probably  the  oldest  French  settlement  in  the 
West,  being  begun  about  1700,  and  having  a  continuous  his¬ 
tory  since  that  time.  In  1719  it  was  erected  into  a  parish,  and 
in  1765  transferred  from  French  to  British  authority,  under 
which  latter  it  remained  until  its  capture  by  George  Rogers 


228 


REVOLUTION  ON  UR  PER  OHIO 


quiry  &  probably  meet  with  Captain  Linn  with  his 
Cargo,  &  if  you  don't  meet  him  before  you  get  there, 
when  you  meet  him,  you  will  conduct  him  with  the 
utmost  Safety  and  the  said  Cargo  up  to  the  House 
of  James  Austurgass  on  the  Monongahela  River,  & 
immediately  advise  me  thereof.  I  desire  that  all  pos¬ 
sible  care  may  be  observed,  as  I  have  great  reason  to 
apprehend  Danger  from  the  Savages.  If  you  hear 
nothing  of  Captain  Linn  at  the  aforesaid  places,  you 
will  proceed  on  untill  you  meet  him.  If  you  find  it 
conducive  to  the  good  of  the  Service  you  are  ordered 
upon,  you  will  engage  the  necessary  Interpreter  or 
Interpreters,  who  should  be  worthy,  Trusty  persons. 
Colonel  David  Shepherd  will  furnish  you  with  Beef, 
Pork,  and  Craft,  at  the  mouth  of  Grave  Creek;  and 
your  Lieutenant  will  apply  to  Joseph  Parkison69  for 
flour  &  Salt,  &  send  him  to  my  house  for  the  neces¬ 
sary  Ammunition.  You  will  not  fail  to  leave  proper 
Spies  on  the  River  Ohio,  in  case  you  move  up  to  Har- 
rod’s-Burgh,  &  at  the  mouth  of  Ohio,  in  case  you 

Clark  in  1778.  Organized  by  the  Americans  as  the  Illinois 
County  of  Virginia,  it  so  remained  until  1789,  when  it  became 
part  of  the  Northwest  territory.  Kaskaskia  was  the  capital 
uptil  the  organization  of  the  state,  when  the  records  of  the 
commonwealth  were  transferred  to  Vandalia  (1819).  The 
early  French,  British,  and  American  records  have  lately  been 
recovered,  largely  through  the  personal  efforts  of  Professor 
Alvord.  The  site  of  old  Kaskaskia  is  now  almost  entirely  cov¬ 
ered  by  the  Mississippi  River. — Ed. 

69  Joseph  Parkison  was  of  English  descent  and  came  from 
Conococheague  settlement  in  1770.  He  bought  land  on  what 
is  now  the  site  of  Monongahela  City,  Washington  County,  Pa., 
where  he  established  a  ferry  (well-known  in  the  annals  of  the 
Whiskey  Rebellion),  and  kept  a  tavern  as  well  as  a  store  for 
general  merchandize.  He  laid  out  Williamsport  on  his  land  in 
1796 — a  name  changed  in  1835  to  Monongahela  City. — Ed. 


ORGANIZING  MILITIA 


229 


go  up  to  the  Kaskaskias  Village,  lest  Captain  Linn 
should  Slip  your  Notice  in  the  Interim.  Depending 
on  your  Strict  adherence  to  these  Instructions,  I  have 
the  pleasure  of  being 

Sir  Your  mo:  obedt.  Servk 

Dorsey  Pentecost 
County  Leu4,  of  Yohogania 
P.  S.  If  you  run  out  of  Provisions  ammunition  or 
any  other  article  necessary  for  your  Subsistance,  or 
by  any  wise  to  Facilitate  the  Expedition,  you  will  pur¬ 
chase  it,  &  draw  on  Government  or  me  for  the  Pay, 
which  Shall  Punctually  be  paid  but  I  must  once  more 
recommend  the  utmost  Frugality,  Prudence  and  Good 
Conduct 

I  am  &c. 

Dorsey  Pentecost 

C.  L.  Y.  C. 

On  the  Public  Service 
Captn.  William  Herrod 
on  his  Way  to  the  Mississippi 


MILITIA  ARRANGEMENTS 

[Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.  4NN53  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

You  are  hearby  Required  to  Draught  one  Liu1 
[Lieutenant]  and  one  SaP  and  fifteen  men  of  your 
Company  to  Randevouse  at  the  hous  of  John  Swarin* 
gans70  under  the  command  of  Capt  Abner  Howel  up- 


70  John  Swearingen,  originally  of  Dutch  ancestry,  removed 
from  Maryland  as  early  as  1770,  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
Springhill  township,  on  the  cross-road  between  Cheat  River 


23° 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


on  the  first  notis  which  by  his  Excelencis  Express 
Desire  is  to  be  appinted  the  Place  of  Randevouse  for 
this  County  and  as  a  General  Dra[u]ght  is  now  mak¬ 
ing  Which  you  will  Strictly  observe  Gaven  under  my 
hand  this  31  Day  of  January  1777 

Zack11  Morgan71 

To  Capt  William  Harrod 


[Orders  of  the  Executive  Council  of  Virginia.  13S112  — 

transcript  by  L.  C.  D.] 


Feb.  12th,  1777.  Colonel  Pentecost  to  cause  100 
militia  under  proper  officers  of  Yohogania  County  to 
garrison  Fort  Pitt  until  relieved  by  regulars. 

That  two  companies  of  men  be  raised  to  garrison 
Forts  Pitt  and  Randolph,  under  Capts.  Robert  Camp¬ 
bell  and  John  Robinson.72  Thady  Kelley  and  Andrew 


-  1 ,  '  — t  -q  rm  3 1  w ;  v&m 

41  I  d  I  !  J  1*  *  I  UL.  * 

and  Redstone.  His  son  Van  was  a  famous  captain  in  the 
Revolution,  and  father-in-law  of  Capt.  Samuel  Brady.  John 
was  still,  in  1785,  a  resident  of  what  is  now  Fayette  County, 
Pa. — Ed. 


71  Zackwell  Morgan  was  of  Welsh  descent,  and  with  his 
brother  David  emigrated  from  Berkeley  County,  Va.,  about 
1768,  to  the  present  site  of  Morgantown.  Here  Zackwell  set¬ 
tled  and  laid  out  the  town  about  1785.  A  family  tradition  re¬ 
lates  that  he  served  under  Forbes  in  the  French  and  Indian 
War.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  lieutenant  for  Monon¬ 
galia  County.  In  1755  he  married  Drusilla  Springer,  and  had 
several  sons,  two  of  whom,  Levi  and  James,  were  noted  scouts, 
and  served  in  St.  Clair’s  army  in  1791.  Morgan  gave  these 
orders  to  Harrod  as  a  result  of  resolutions  adopted  at  a  coun¬ 
cil  of  war  held  at  Catfish  Creek,  Jan.  28;  see  Crumrine,  Wash¬ 
ington  County ,  Pa.,  p.  186. — Ed. 

72  Robert  Campbell  was  a  half-brother  of  Col.  John  Camp¬ 
bell.  He  made  his  home  in  Pittsburgh,  but  later  removed  to 


ORGANIZING  MILITIA 


231 


McClure  1st  lieutenants,  William  Anderson  and  James 
Brenton73  2nd  lieutenants,  John  Ward  and  George 
Willis  ensigns — all  to  serve  during  the  war;  Captain 
Campbell,  Lieuts.  Kelley  and  Anderson  and  Ensign 
Ward  with  their  company  to  command  the  garrison 
at  Fort  Pitt;  Captain  Robinson,  Lieuts.  McClure  and 
Brenton  and  Ensign  Willis  at  Fort  Randolph.  John 
Campbell  of  Pittsburgh74  to  provision  the  200  men 
at  Fort  Pitt. 

Jefferson  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  died  without  heirs  some¬ 
time  before  1806. 

John  Robinson  was  a  captain  of  the  Washington  County 
(Pa.)  militia  in  1784.  He  probably  lived  on  Robinson’s  Run 
in  that  county. — Ed. 

78  Thady  Kelley  was  a  noted  spy  and  ranger,  one  of  those 
who  led  McDonald’s  expedition  in  1774. 

The  McClures  lived  on  Ten  Mile  Creek,  and  were  prominent 
in  that  region. 

William  Anderson  had  a  farm  near  Raccoon  Creek,  Wash¬ 
ington  County,  Pa.  In  1779  he  was  wounded  by  Indians,  es¬ 
caped  to  Dillow’s  blockhouse,  and  was  saved.  One  of  his 
name  acted  as  deputy  muster-master  at  Fort  McIntosh  in 
1779,  and  afterwards  resided  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  until  1806. 

James  Brenton  (or  Brinton)  had  been  out  with  McDonald 
in  1774,  and  after  ranging  throughout  1777,  and  serving  with 
Hand  in  the  spring  of  1778,  commanded  a  company  on  Mc¬ 
Intosh’s  expedition.  Later  he  was  a  major  on  Crawford’s 
Sandusky  expedition  (1782),  and  although  slightly  wounded, 
returned  to  his  home  in  Washington  County.  After  the  Revo¬ 
lution  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  and  lived  in  Mercer  County, 
where  he  was  killed  by  the  Indians  about  1788. — Ed. 

74  Col.  John  Campbell  was  an  Irishman  by  birth,  who  came 
to  America  while  young,  and  going  West  entered  the  Indian 
trade.  In  1764  he  laid  off  a  town  on  the  present  site  of  Pitts¬ 
burgh.  In  1774  he  was  at  the  Falls  of  Ohio  (Louisville), 
where  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  adjoining  Connolly’s. 
During  the  early  Revolution  he  acted  as  commissary  at  Fort 
Pitt.  In  the  summer  of  1779,  he  was  on  a  visit  to  the  Falls  of 
Ohio,  where  he  took  passage  with  Col.  David  Rogers’s  party 
from  New  Orleans  on  their  return  journey  up  the  river.  Near 
Cincinnati,  Rogers  was  defeated  by  a  large  force  of  Indians, 
who  captured  Campbell.  The  latter  was  taken  to  Detroit,  and 


232 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Maj.  David  Rogers.75  1SS39  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

William sbijrgh  Feb.  13th.  1777 
Sir — You  are  to  cause  fifty  men  of  your  Militia 
most  proper  for  the  purpose  to  be  stationed  at  the 
Mouth  of  the  little  Kanhawa,  &  also  fifty  others  at 
the  Mouth  of  Wheeling,  under  the  proper  officers  for 

ultimately  to  Quebec,  where  because  of  his  open  defiance  the 
British  refused  to  have  him  exchanged  until  the  very  close  of 
the  Revolution.  In  1784  he  took  up  his  residence  near  Louis¬ 
ville,  where  he  was  for  a  time  chairman  of  the  trustees  for 
Clark’s  Grant  in  Indiana.  He  was  sent  to  the  Virginia  legis¬ 
lature  from  Kentucky,  was  member  of  the  constitutional  con¬ 
vention  of  1792,  and  speaker  of  the  Kentucky  senate  in  1798. 
He  died  the  following  year,  leaving  a  large  estate  to  collateral 
heirs. — Ed. 

76  David  Rogers  was  a  native  of  Ireland  who  early  emigrated 
to  America,  and  settled  as  .a,  merchant  at  Oldtown,  Md.  In 
1775  he  made  a  settlement  five  miles  above  Wheeling,  on  the 
Ohio,  and  marched  a  company  to  Pittsburgh.  The  following 
year,  he  represented  West  Augusta  district  in  the  Virginia  leg¬ 
islature,  and  was  appointed  captain  in  the  continental  service. 
For  some  reason  he  did  not  qualify,  and  being  the  best-known 
resident  was  appointed  March  4,  1777,  as  county-lieutenant  for 
the  new  Ohio  County.  In  April  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Vir¬ 
ginia  senate.  The  Indian  forays,  however,  made  his  settle¬ 
ment  unsafe,  and  he  removed  back  to  Mount  Braddock,  in  the 
present  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  where  he  resigned  his  county- 
lieutenantship,  whereupon  David  Shepherd  was  (June,  1777) 
appointed  in  his  stead.  Later  he  married  the  widow  of  Capt. 
Michael  Cresap,  and  located  on  the  Potomac  in  Hampshire 
County.  Early  in  1778,  he  was  chosen  a  special  envoy  to  New 
Orleans  to  convey  goods  thence  to  the  Western  states.  Leav¬ 
ing  Pittsburgh  in  June,  he  reached  New  Orleans  in  September, 
and  found  that  his  goods  were  awaiting  him  at  St.  Louis. 
These  secured,  he  obtained  an  additional  guard  at  the  Falls 
of  Ohio  from  George  Rogers  Clark.  While  ascending  the 
river  he  and  his  convoy  were  waylaid  (Oct.  4,  1779)  by  a  lar£e 
party  of  Indians,  just  above  the  mouth  of  the  Licking,  all 
being  captured  save  thirteen.  Rogers  was  himself  killed  by 
Simon  Girty,  who  later  boasted  of  the  deed. — Ed. 


ORGANIZING  MILITIA 


233 


the  Defence  of  those  posts  &  the  neighbouring  Inhabi¬ 
tants  until  further  orders. 

I  address  my  self  to  you  on  this  occasion  not  know¬ 
ing  who  is  the  superior  officer  in  the  county  where 
[you]  reside. 

I  should  be  glad  to  hear  what  is  become  of  the 
powder  Capt.  Gibson  purchased  at  Orleans  &  what  you 
have  done  in  the  Business  of  buying  provisions.  I 
am  Sir  yr.  mo.  hble  servk 

P.  Henry  Jr. 

To  Major  Rogers  of  Ohio  by  Mr  Kelly 


[Orders  of  the  Virginia  Council.  13S109  —  transcript  by 

L.  C.  D.] 

March  4,  1777.  John  Campbell  appointed  and  com¬ 
missioned  County  Lieutenant,  John  Cannon  Colonel, 
Thomas  Brown  Lt.  Colonel,  and  Henry  Taylor,  Ma¬ 
jor,  of  the  county  of  Yohogania.76 

David  Rogers  county  Lieutenant,  David  Shepherd 


76  Col.  Thomas  Brown  was  an  early  settler  (1768)  on  the 
Monongahela.  In  1776  he  bought  Cresap’s  property  on  the 
site  of  Redstone  Old  Fort,  and  in  1785  laid  out  the  town 
called  from  his  name,  Brownsville.  He  died  in  1797,  aged 
fifty-nine  years,  leaving  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Maj.  Henry  Taylor  came  from  Maryland  in  1770,  and  set¬ 
tled  just  north  of  the  present  town  of  Washington.  In 
December,  1777,  he  resigned  his  position  as  major,  being  suc¬ 
ceeded  by  Gabriel  Cox.  Taylor  was  the  first  presiding  judge 
of  Washington  County,  and  in  1793  brigadier-general  of 
militia.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  aided  Wayne  in  his  cam¬ 
paign  (1794).  Major  Taylor  died  in  1801  in  the  sixty-third 
year  of  his  age. — Ed. 


234 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Colonel,  David  McClure  Lt.  Colonel,  and  Samuel  Mc- 
Colloch  Major  of  Ohio  County.77 


[Officers  of  Monongalia  County.  3^bli28— 130  —  transcript 

by  L.  C.  D.] 

Monongalia  Co:  Va.  April,  1777 
Zackquill  Morgan,  County  Lt.,  Col.  Dan1.  McFar¬ 
land,  Lt.  Col.,  Thos.  Gaddis,  Maj.  John  Evans.78 

77  David  McClure  was  a  prominent  resident  of  the  Grave 
Creek  locality.  He  continued  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
county  until  his  death,  which  occurred  about  1 788. 

Maj.  Samuel  McColloch  was  a  noted  borderer,  born  in 
I750>  who  came  about  1770  from  the  South  Branch  of  the 
Potomac  to  the  waters  of  Short  Creek.  In  the  autumn  of 
1777,  while  bringing  relief  to  the  besieged  at  Fort  Henry,  he 
was  set  upon  by  Indians,  and  escaped  by  leaping  his  horse 
over  a  precipice  two  hundred  feet  high.  In  1779  he  was 
elected  to  represent  Ohio  County  in  the  Virginia  legislature, 
and  was  out  with  Brodhead  on  the  latter’s  campaign.  He  was 
in  charge  of  Van  Metre’s  fort  on  Short  Creek  during  the 
Revolution,  being  shot  and  mortally  wounded  by  Indians  not 
far  from  that  fort  (July  30,  1782). — Ed. 

78  Col.  Thomas  Gaddis  settled  (1769)  in  what  is  now  Fayette 
County,  near  the  site  of  Uniontown.  He  was  later  a  militia 
officer  for  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  and  having  volunteered 
for  Crawford’s  expedition  (1782)  was  elected  by  the  troop  as 
field-major  (third  in  command).  He  conducted  a  distillery 
upon  his  premises  and  was  active  in  the  Whiskey  Rebellion. 
About  1816  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  the  Miami  region 
of  Ohio,  where  he  died. 

John  Evans  was  of  Welsh  descent,  and  born  in  Loudoun 
County,  Virginia.  He  was  an  early  settler  on  Decker’s 
Creek,  near  the  Morgans’  settlement  on  the  Monongahela, 
his  estate  being  known  as  “Walnut  Hills.”  He  was  out 
with  McIntosh  in  1778,  colonel  under  Brodhead  in  1779,  and 
prominent  in  militia  affairs  throughout  the  Revolution.  He 
died  at  his  home  in  Monongalia  County  in  1834,  aged  ninety- 
six  years.  His  son  Capt.  Jack  Evans  was  a  prominent  scout 
in  the  Indian  wars,  and  his  descendants  still  live  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  West  Virginia  home. — Ed. 


ORGANIZING  MILITIA 


235 


Capt.  Harrod  &  company  then  at  Grave  Creek  from 
Monongalia  County. 

Capt9.,  Jesse  Pigman,  John  Minor,  Wm.  McCleery, 
Charles  Craycraft,  Henry  Enoch,  Abraham  Teegar- 
din,  Thomas  Crooke,  Jacob  Prickett,  John  Hord,  & 
Jacob  Rich:79  That  Capts.  Pigman  &  Plenry  Enoch 
raise  two  companies  to  go  under  Col.  Shepherd  against 
Pluggy’s  Town. 

79  The  early  records  of  Monongalia  County  were  burned, 
so  that  it  is  not  possible  to  identify  all  of  these  captains. 

Jesse  Pigman,  who  made  a  settlement  in  Monongalia 
County  ia  1773,  was  a  member  of  the  grand  jury  for  Augusta 
County  in  1775. 

John  Minor  commanded  at  Statler  Fort,  having  come  to  the 
Monongahela  region  as  early  as  1764.  He  had  a  large  estate 
near  the  forks  of  Cheat  River  and  built  there  the  first  flour¬ 
mill  of  the  region.  Upon  his  land  coming  within  Penn¬ 
sylvania  he  became  (1791)  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  that 
state,  and  secured  the  erection  of  Greene  County.  He  aided 
in  building  the  boats  for  Clark’s  expedition  (1778),  and 
traded  to  New  Orleans.  He  died  in  1833  in  his  ninetieth  year. 

William  McCleary  was  a  prominent  lawyer  of  what  is  now 
Monongalia  County,  W.  Va.  He  acted  at  one  time  as  com¬ 
missary  for  the  forts,  and  was  colonel  of  the  militia  in  1784. 
He  also  served  as  attorney-general  for  the  county  court  un¬ 
til  his  decease  some  time  after  1810. 

Charles  Cracroft  was  born  near  Frederick,  Maryland,  but 
lived  near  Harper’s  Ferry  until  his  removal  to  the  West  in 
1774,  when  he  settled  near  Van  Buren,  Washington  County, 
Pa.  In  1779  he  was  out  as  major,  with  Brodhead,  and  two 
years  later  volunteered  under  Clark,  being  captured  with 
Lochry’s  detachment,  and  imprisoned  at  Quebec  until  the  close 
of  the  Revolution.  He  died  on  his  farm  in  1824. 

Abram  Teagarden  and  his  brother  William  settled  first  at 
Redstone,  and  later  moved  into  Greene  County,  Pa.,  on  the  up¬ 
per  waters  of  Wheeling  Creek.  Two  of  the  second  generation 
served  in  Wayne’s  campaign. 

Jacob  Prickett  belonged  to  the  family  who  forted  on  the 
Monongahela  in  what  is  now  Marion  County,  W.  Va.  The 
fort  was  attacked  in  1774,  and  Josiah  Prickett  killed. — Ed. 


236 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  David  Rogers.  1SS41  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Wmsburgh,  March  4th.  1 777. 

Sir — I  have  to  desire  that  the  field  officers  of  your 
county  will  fill  up  the  commissions  herewith  sent  for 
the  proper  Captains  &  subaltern  officers  of  your  mili¬ 
tia. 

I  am  Sir  Yr.  mo.  hb1.  serv1. 

P.  Henry.  Jr. 

In  Council. 

Coty.  Lieutenk  of  Ohio  Coty. 


PLTJGGY’S  TOWN  EXPEDITION  ORDERED 

[Orders  of  the  Virginia  Council.  1SS43  —  A.  D.  S.] 

In  Council  Wmsburg  march  12  1777 
This  Board  having  from  time  to  time  recivd.  un¬ 
doubted  Inteligence  of  Repeated  hostilities  Commited 
on  the  Subjects  of  this  Commonwealth  by  the  Indians 
of  Pluggys  Town  and  not  Withstanding  the  Just  Re¬ 
monstrances  made  to  them  by  our  Agents  for  Indian 
Affairs  they  have  not  been  Brought  to  a  Sense  of 
Duty,  but  from  their  repeated  Injurys  there  is  the 
greatest  Reason  to  Expect  increased  Insolence  in  Stead 
of  that  good  Neighbourhood  we  wish  to  Cultivate 
with  all  the  Indian  Tribes,  and  whearas  the  obsti¬ 
nate  and  wicked  Disposition  of  the  Said  Indians  of 
Pluggy  s  Town  have  been  Represented  to  Congress, 
and  they  Seem  to  have  no  prospects  of  Conciliation 
but  have  referd  to  this  Board  the  Proprity  of  making 
war  on  them  if  it  can  be  done  without  exciting  the 


A  PUNITIVE  EXPEDITION 


*17 


jealousy  &  discord  with  the  other  Neighbouring  Na¬ 
tions.80 

Resolved,  that  George  morgan  Esqr.  Superinten¬ 
dent  of  Indian  Affairs  and  Colonel  John  Nevill  (or 
in  case  of  his  absence  Robert  Campbell  Esq1'.)  do 
Confer  with  Such  Chief  or  Chiefs  of  the  Delewares 
and  Shawnese  Indians  as  may  be  Rely’d  on  for  Sec¬ 
recy  and  fidelity  and  Represent  to  them  the  Necessity 
of  Chastising  the  Sd.  Indians  and  in  Case  the  Sd. 
gentlemen  Shall  find  that  the  said  Shawneeses  and 
Delewares  do  not  give  Reason  to  apprehend  Discord 
with  them  by  Reason  of  Such  a  Proceeding  Resolved 

That  300  militia  men  commanded  by  a  Colr  Major 
six  Captains  six  Lieutenants  six  Ensigns  and  a  Proper 
number  of  noncommissioned  officers  be  Ordered  to 
make  an  Expedition  to  said  Pluggys  Town  in  order 
to  Punish  that  People  for  their  unprovoked  Crueltys 
Commited  on  the  Inhabitants  of  Virginia 

That  the  officers  commanding  this  Expedition  have 
it  in  Charge  at  their  peril  and  that  all  those  Concernd 
that  no  Injurys  provocation  or  ill  treatment  of  Any 
kind  Be  done  or  Suffered  to  the  Delewares  and  Shaw- 
nees  Indians  through  Whose  Country  they  Pass, 
But  on  the  other  hand  that  the  said  officers  be  Strictly 
charged  and  commanded  to  conduct  them  Selves  to¬ 
wards  them,  as  our  faithful  Friends  and  Brethren 
Govarnment  being  Detirmined  to  revenge  the  Least 
Injury  done  them 

That  the  officers  commanding  the  Expedition  apply 

80  February  27,  1777,  Congress  resolved  to  request  Virginia 
to  consider  the  propriety  of  an  expedition  against  Pluggy’s 
Town,  and  these  orders  were  issued  in  consequence  of  that 
request;  see  Journals  of  Congress  (new  ed.),  vii,  p.  166. — Ed. 


238 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


to  George  Morgan  Esqr.  for  amunition  Provisions 
and  Stores  necesary  for  the  Party  who  is  Requested 
to  give  any  assistance  in  his  Power  [to]  forward  the 
undertaking 

That  the  Commanding  officer  ought  to  be  directed 
to  Shew  mercy  to  the  Women  and  Children  and  to 
such  of  the  men  as  Surrender  them  Selves  and  to 
Send  all  Prisoners  taken  by  his  Party  belonging  to 
Sd.  Pluggys  Town  to  this  City  and  as  the  Success  of 
this  Expedition1  will  Depend  upon  the  Dispatch  with 
which  it  is  conducted  Resolved  That  if  a  majority 
of  the  field  officers  and  Captains  who  are  to  be  en¬ 
gaged  in  it  shall  judge  it  best,  that  the  men  Shall  be 
Directed  to  march  on  horse  Back  finding  their  own 
horses  and  carrying  their  own  Provisions  and  that 
they  ought  to  receive  a  Reasonable  allowance  for  so 
Doing 

That  Colr.  David  Shepherd  of  Ohio  Coty  be  Com¬ 
mander  in  Chief  of  the  Expedition  that  Major  hinry 
Taylor  of  Yoghyogania  Coty  be  the  major  and  that 
they  nominate  the  Captains  and  Subaltirn  officers  out 
of  those  Commissioned  in  the  Cotys  of  monnonga- 
hale  Yoghyagane  &  ohio  Counties  or  Either  of 
them81 


A  Copy 


Arch  Blair82  Clerk 


81  These  orders  are  likewise  printed  in  Penna.  Archives ,  v. 
pp.  258-260,  accompanied  by  a  personal  letter  from  Patrick 
Henry  to  Morgan  and  Neville,  emphasizing  the  delicacy  and 
secrecy  needed  to  be  observed.  See  also  Bailsman,  Beaver 
County ,  p.  73. — Ed. 

82  Archibald  Blair  (1753-1824)  was  a  native  of  Williams- 
burgh,  and  a  relative  of  Rev.  James  Blair,  first  president  of 
William  and  Mary  College.  He  was  clerk  of  the  committee 


SHORT  OF  PROVISIONS 


239 


[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  David  Rogers.  1SS45  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Wms.burgh  March  13th.  1777 

Sir — You  will  please  give  to  Col°.  Shepherd  & 
Major  Taylor  all  the  assistance  which  is  requisite  in 
raising  &  preparing  three  hundred  men  for  an  Ex¬ 
pedition  ag^  Pluggys  Town.  I  do  not  mean  to  re¬ 
strict  these  gentn.  to  any  par[ticu]lar  Coty  in  getting 
the  proper  Number  of  Militia,  but  hope  every  one 
on  yr.  side  of  the  Mountains  will  exert  himself  to 
give  success  to  this  measure.  I  am  Sir  Yr.  hbl  serv*. 

P.  Henry  Jr. 

The  Coty  Lieutenk  of  Ohio 


REINFORCEMENTS  FOR  FORT  RANDOLPH 

[Capt.  John  Stuart  to  Col.  William  Fleming.  3ZZ9  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Greenbrier  March  ye  21st  1777 
Dr  Sir — As  I  informed  you  by  Wilson  of  the 
apointment  for  assembling  the  draughts  on  this  quarter 
ye  20th  Inst,  they  meet  accordingly,  &  altho  I  had 
made  the  strictest  enquirey  for  bacon  &c.  for  the 
march  it  was  out  of  my  power  to  procure  one  pound. 
I  therefore  ordered  those  who  were  willing  to  go  to 
provide  each  man  10  days  provision  (which  I  thing 
is  little  anugh  to  march  the  distance  at  this  season) 
and  to  be  ready  to  march  on  monday  ye  21st  Inst, 
but  as  a  number  has  refused  upon  their  draughts  I 

of  safety,  and  then  of  the  Virginia  council  from  the  outbreak 
of  the  Revolution  until  1800.  In  1789  he  married  Mary  Whit¬ 
ing,  by  whom  he  left  three  children. — Ed. 


240 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


am  convinced  there  will  not  be  a  company  of  50  men, 
I  therefore  thought  it  would  be  proper  to  aquaint  you 
&  would  be  glad  to  know  whether  it  will  be  worth 
my  while  to  go  with  what  is  willing  which  I  believe 
will  not  be  more  than  30  or  thereabouts  or  send  them 
with  Lieut.  Ward,83  &  have  another  draught  made 
and  march  after  them  myself,  if  the  company  can  be 
made  up,  but  as  Cap1  Arbuckle  is  Just  come  from 
Williamsburg  &  informes  me  that  the  governor  & 
Council  has  petitioned  the  congress  for  continueing 
the  regulars  on  the  Ohio  I  am  in  hopes  there  will  be 
no  occasion  for  going  at  this  time,  as  it  will  be  at¬ 
tended  with  much  inconvenience  to  many  of  the 
people,  but  of  this  I  make  no  doubt  you  have  Recd 
notice  by  now,  but  if  the  case  is  that  we  must  go  I 
think  it  would  be  highly  necessary  to  prosecute  the 
delinquents  who  has  refused  their  draughts,  &  it  will 
be  the  more  effectually  done  if  each  particular  Cap1. 
Receive  your  orders  for  that  purpose,  as  well  as  for 
draughting  the  proportion  of  the  next  division  for 
compleating  the  company  otherwise  it  appears  to  me 
they  will  in  a  short  time  pay  but  little  respect  to 
authority.  I  did  every  thing  in  my  power  to  assemble 
such  as  engaged  volunteers  w1  Cap1  Byrnside  before 
I  Recd  your  last  by  Mr  Madison  but  to  no  purpose 

83  Lieutenant  Ward  was  without  doubt  a  nephew  of  Capt. 
Matthew  Arbuckle,  and  son  of  Capt.  James  Ward  who  was 
slain  at  Point  Pleasant  (see  Dunmore’s  War ,  p.  276,  note  93). 
There  were  several  sons  in  the  Ward  family,  of  whom  the  eld¬ 
est  at  home  was  William.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Mason 
County,  Ky.,  where  he  served  in  the  state  legislature  ( 1792- 
95).  About  1800  he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  in  1804  he  laid 
out  the  town  of  Urbana,  in  Champaign  County.  He  died  in 
this  neighborhood  in  1822. — Ed. 


AT  FORT  RANDOLPH 


241 


for  there  was  never  more  than  a  dozen  appeared  [at] 
once  I  shall  be  glad  how  soon  the  messenger  can  re¬ 
turn  that  I  may  know  how  to  proceed 
I  am  your  most  Humb1  Servt 

John  Stewart 

N.  B.  please  to  send  me  some  each  [itch]  oint¬ 
ment  by  the  bearer  J.  S. 

Since  I  wrote  a  soldier  of  Cap1  Arbuckles  arived 
from  for[t]  Randolph  who  Informs  that  they  had 
but  3  or  four  days  provision  when  he  Left  that  and 
that  the  soldiers  were  determined  to  abandon  the 
garrison  in  a  few  days  unless  a  supply  came  from 
for[t]  pitt,  which  was  expected,  the  same  person 
Informs  he  was  sent  by  Lieut.  Thompson  who  had 
been  up  the  new  river  for  corn,  to  the  inhabitants 
there  about  Kelleys84  to  let  them  know  there  was  a 
party  of  Indians  coming  up  the  river  which  was  dis¬ 
covered  shooting  Turkeys  the  particulars  of  this  I 
cannot  inform  you  as  I  did  not  see  the  man  but  had 
it  from  Cap1  Arbuckle 

J.  S. 

On  publick  service  to 

Col°.  William  Fleming  Botetourt  pr  express 

84  For  the  location  of  Kelly’s  place  see  Dunmore’s  War ,  p. 
1 1 2,  note  62. — Ed. 


16 


24 2 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


SITUATION  AT  WHEELING 

[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  Gov.  Patrick  Henry  (?).  1SS47 — 

A.  L.,  draft  in  Shepherd’s  handwriting.] 

Weelin  or  Ohio  County  March  24^  1777 

Sir — By  a  Letter  Directed  to  Majr  David  Rogeirs 
and  Likewise  the  Order  in  Council  of  the  12  of  Feb¬ 
ruary  it  was  ordered  that  this  County  Should  Send 
fifty  men  to  the  Little  Kanawa  and  fifty  men  to  the 
Mouth  of  Whelin,  application  being  made  to  me  I 
Called  a  council  for  that  purpose  of  the  field  officers 
and  Captins  of  the  County  and  after  Considering  the 
State  of  the  County  and  Our  Militia  not  Consisting 
of  more  than  350  Affective  men  and  having  a  fron¬ 
tier  of  Eighty  Miles  and  that  Laying  the  Nearest 
and  most  Exposed  to  the  Indians  and  the  Late  alarm¬ 
ing  accounts  from  the  Indian  towns85  I  Receiv11 
Inteliganc  by  way  of  the  Kanaway  that  they  have 
Burnt  one  white  prisoner  at  the  Shawnee  towns  Lately 
which  alarms  the  people  very  much  suposed  to  be  a 
Soldier  Named  Elijah  Matthews  taken  at  Grave 
Creek,  under  those  and  many  other  Surcomstances 
of  the  Like  Nature,  and  no  garison  being  Built  at  the 
Little  Kanaway  and  there  Never  been  any  men  at 
that  Station  I  hope  Sir  under  those  Sircomstances 

86  See  post  for  O'Hara’s  account  of  a  war-party  leaving  the 
Shawnee  towns.  Early  in  March  also,  a  band  of  Shawnee 
under  Blackfish  began  to  harry  the  few  Kentucky  settlements, 
hovering  around  Harrodsburgh,  killing  William  Ray  and  cap¬ 
turing  Thomas  Shores,  and  attacking  the  fort  itself  on  the 
morning  of  the  7th.  The  defenders  sallied  forth,  and  drove 
them  away,  with  losses  on  each  side.  The  same  day  a  de¬ 
tached  party  of  Indians  appeared  before  Boonesborough,  and 
before  refuge  was  found  in  the  fort  killed  and  wounded  two 
persons.  See  Draper  MSS.,  4B115-117. — Ed. 


AT  WHEELING 


243 


you  will  not  Consider  our  Disobaying  of  orders  a 
breach  of  trust  or  Disafected  to  the  Commonwelth 
ass  our  pressing  Necessity  forced  it  to  we  therefore 
thought  it  proper  to  order  fifty  of  our  militia  to  Whe- 
lin  and  fifty  more  to  grave  Creek  and  twenty  five  to 
the  Beach  Bottom80  which  places  appeared  to  us  to 
be  the  most  fiting  to  Defend  us  against  the  Indians 
and  protect  the  Inhabitants  of  this  and  part  of  the 
other  Countys.  according  to  your  former  order  we 
have  sent  spies  towards  the  Indian  Country  one 
part[y]  of  which  Come  across  a  party  of  Indians  in 
Camp  and  fired  on  them  wounded  one  which  got 
of [f ]  by  the  assistance  of  the  Rest  a  deep  creek  be¬ 
ing  betwen  them  they  got  clear  they  Lef  their  Kit¬ 
tle  a  Number  of  Bows  and  arrows  and  had  all  the 
appeirance  of  woryers  [warriors]. 


[Col.  David  Shepherd  to  (?).  1SS48  —  A.  L.,  draft  in  Shep¬ 

herd’s  handwriting.] 

Weelin  March  24^  1777 

Sir — Please  to  Send  by  the  Barer  Daniel  McClane 
the  Barril  of  Powder  which  I  chose  and  Likewise 
163lb  of  Lead  and  300  flints  I  should  take  it  ass  a 
great  favour  if  you  could  Supply  me  with  a  Bar  off 
Steel  to  Repair  gunlocks  and  other  things  for  the  use 
of  the  militia  that  is  Stationed  on  the  River  I  hope 

88  Beech  Bottom  Fort  stood  about  three  miles  below  Wells- 
burgh,  and  twelve  above  Wheeling,  in  what  is  now  Buffalo 
District,  Brooke  County.  It  protected  the  settlement  of  the 
Hedges  family.  Occupied  only  in  1777J  its  history  is  related 
in  subsequent  documents. — Ed. 


244 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


you  will  give  Some  Direction  for  the  Victualing  the 
Militia  that  will  be  Stationed  at  grave  Creek  Whelin 
an  the  Beach  Bottom  ass  in  our  Council  it  was  not 
thought  proper  to  Send  men  to  the  Little  Conway 
and  Leave  our  frontiers  Defenceless  and  ass  there 
was  No  garison  built  there  Neither  had  we  Di- 
rections  for  that  purpose  if  we  had  the  men  to  Spare 
it  was  thought  proper 


ALLIES  TO  BE  PROTECTED 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  the  County  Lieutenant  of  Ohio. 

1SS49 — A.  L.  SJ 

Wms.burgh  March  27th.  1777 
Sir — I  have  recd.  Information  that  the  Delaware 
Indians  apprehend  a  dangerous  War  with  our 
Enemys,  on  account  of  their  Fidelity  to  us.  You  aire 
to  use  every  means  in  your  power  to  protect  them. 
If  they  demand  it,  you  are  to  send  a  party  of  Men 
to  their  Towns  if  in  Virginia  to  assist  them  in  build*. 
Forts,  &  in  such  a  Number  as  the  Exigency  of  Af¬ 
fairs  makes  necessary.  While  there  they  are  to  de¬ 
fend  our  faithfull  allys  to  the  last  Extremity.  If  the 
Indians  chuse  to  come  into  our  settlements  for  Shel¬ 
ter,  make  them  Welcome,  &  share  with  them  all  your 
provisions  ammunition  warlike  stores  as  long  as  any 
lasts  to  divide.  Any  Injury  done  them,  is  done  to 
us  while  they  are  faithfull.  In  one  Word,  support 
protect  defend  &  cherish  them  in  every  Respect  to 
the  utmost.  Act  in  concert  with  the  Neighbouring 


IROQUOIS  HOSTILE 


245 


counties  &  communicate  these  orders  to  Mr.  Morgan 
the  Agent  &  the  commanders  of  the  Regulars. 

I  am  Sir  Yr.  hble  serv1. 

P.  Henry  Jr. 

The  County  Lieutenant  of  Ohio 


THE  SIX  NATIONS  HOSTILE 

(Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.  4NN56— ■ 

A.  L.  S.] 

April  2d.  1777 

I  received  your  Letter  by  Mr  McLaughlin,  and  have 
sent  you  17 Pounds  Powder.  I  have  not  one  Sin¬ 
gle  Pound  of  Lead,  here  but  shall  Endeavour  to  sup¬ 
ply  you  with  some,  on  Monday,  pray,  try  to  have 
your  whole  Company  together  as  soon  as  Possible,  at 
Grave  Creek  &  keep  a  sharp  Lookout,  for  fear  of  the 
Indians  I  am  informed  Col°.  Shepherd  has  Em¬ 
ployed  a  man  to  refit  the  Battoe,  but  if  you  want 
Pitch  or  Oakum,  for  it  you  must  Send  to  Mr.  Robert 
Campbell,  at  fort  Pitt,  who  will  Supply  you  those 
articles,  be  very  active  as  much  Depends  on  your 
Good  Conduct,  at  Grave  Creek.  The  Six  nations 
have  killd  one  man  &  taken  another  at  the  Kittaning 
and  have  Ordered  us  all  to  Quite  [quit]  this  Coun¬ 
try,  directly  in  Writting,  besides  their  Leaving  the  Im¬ 
plements  of  Warr,  Common  to  them,  when  they  De¬ 
clare  War87  This  is  Confirmed  by  the  Delawares, 

*7  Early  in  1777  the  British  officers  at  Niagara  had,  in  obedi 
ence  to  instructions  from  headquarters,  sent  out  the  Indians 
against  the  frontiers.  .  February  14,  they  captured  Andrew 
McFarlane  near  the  Kittanning  fort.  A  month  later,  as  Capt. 


246 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


and  I  think  there  is  no  Dispute  of  a  War,  with  the 
Villians. 

Mr.  Chew88  will  bring  Provisions,  Amunition  & 
Sufficient  for  your  Journey  Down  the  River  Which 
I  hope  will  be  Prosperious,  about  the  first  of  May 
[have]  all  things  in  readiness,  when  I  hope  no  more 
Delays  [will]  Stop  this  Necessary  Journey 

I  am  your  Friend  &  Hble  SeP 

Zack11  Morgan 

William  Harrod,  Esqr 


Samuel  Moorhead  was  returning  from  the  fort  to  recruit,  he 
found  (March  18)  one  by  the  name  of  Simpson  killed,  and 
his  own  brother,  who  had  been  with  him,  captured.  By  the 
corpse  was  a  war-belt,  a  tomahawk,  and  a  pouch  containing 
a  letter  addressed  to  the  inhabitants ;  for  this  letter,  see  Hil¬ 
dreth,  Pioneer  History  of  the  Ohio  Valley ,  p.  117.  It  was  to 
this  incident  that  Morgan  refers;  see  Pennsylvania  Historical 
Register ,  2nd  series,  ii,  p.  235.  'that  the  Six  Nations  were 
sent  out  by  British  orders  is  proven  by  the  letters  of  Guy 
Johnson  in  N.  Y.  Colon .  Docs.,  viii,  pp.  711-713. — Ed. 

88  Maj.  James  Chew  belonged  to  the  Virginia  branch  of  that 
family,  and  was  the  youngest  son  of  Thomas,  for  many  years 
magistrate  of  Orange,  then  of  Spottsylvania  County.  James's 
elder  brother,  Colby  Chew,  was  an  early  explorer  in  Kentucky 
with  Dr.  Thomas  Walker.  James  was  for  a  time  surveyor  of 
Monongalia  County,  and  appears  to  have  acted  as  special  agent 
and  commissary  for  the  Ohio  forts.  He  married  (1765) 
Mary  Caldweli,  and  died  before  January  27,  1783.  See 
Draper  MSS.,  5ZZ76. — Ed. 


OPERATIONS  SUSPENDED 


247 


PLTJGGrY'S  town  expedition  abandoned 

[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  David  Shepherd.  1SS51  — 

A.  L.  S.] 

Wms.burgh  April  12th.  1777. 

Sir — The  Expedition  against  Pluggys  Town  is  to 
be  laid  aside  by  a  Resolution  of  Congress.89 

I  am  Sir  Yr.  hble  serv1. 

P.  Henry 

Col0.  David  Shepherd,  Ohio 
public  Service  by  Express 


[John  Page  to  Col.  George  Morgan  and  Col.  John  Nevill. 

1SS53  —  transcript  by  Morgan.] 

Wms.burgh  in  Council  April  15th.  1777 

Gentlemen — As  an  Express  was  sent  off  to  you 
last  week  in  consequence  of  a  vote  of  Congress  to 
suspend  the  operations  which  were  meditated  against 
Pluggy’s  Town ;  and  as  Congress  have  under  their 
consideration  many  of  the  important  articles  men¬ 
tion’d  in  your  Letter  now  before  us,00  &  the  ensuing 

88  This  resolution  of  Congress  was  adopted  March  25,  upon 
the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  Col.  George  Morgan,  dated  the 
fifteenth  of  the  same  month ;  see  Journals  of  Congress,  new 
ed.,  vii,  p.  201.  The  letter  of  Morgan  is  printed  by  Bausman, 
Beaver  County,  p.  69.  In  it  he  deprecates  any  expeditions  into 
the  Indian  country  “which  may  involve  us  in  a  general  & 
unequal  Quarrel  with  all  the  Nations  who  are  at  present  quiet 
but  extremely  jealous  of  the  least  encroachment  on  their 
Lands.”  This  letter  determined  the  authorities  to  pursue  a 
pacific  policy,  and  act  only  upon  the  defensive. — Ed. 

80  Referring  to  their  letter  of  April,  1,  1777,  printed  in 
Penna,  Archives,  v.  p.  288;  Beaver  County,  p.  74;  and  Hil¬ 
dreth,  Pioneer  History  of  the  Ohio  Valley,  pp.  ncy-122. — Ed. 


248 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Assembly  should  be  consulted  on  some  of  them — 
we  can  only  at  present  recommend  it  to  you  to  pre¬ 
vent  an  Indian  War  as  far  as  lies  in  your  power,  & 
to  be  prepared  against  any  attack  in  the  best  manner 
your  situation  will  admit  of 

I  am  Gentn.  Your  most  obed*.  send. 

John  Page 

P.  S.  We  are  as  much  at  a  loss  to  know  where 
St.  Louis  is,  as  you  can  be,  but  suppose  it  to  be  where 
you  mention.91 

To  Col°.  George  Morgan  & 

Col°.  John  Nevill  at  Fort  Pitt. 

To  Colonel  David  Shepherd  92  Ohio  County 

On  the  public  Service  By  Express 

Recd.  Fort  Pitt  April  27th 
Geo.  Morgan 


[Gov.  Patrick  Henry  to  Col.  John  Nevill.  1SS55  —  A.  L.  S.] 

Wms.burgh  April  21,  1777. 

Sir — Your  Despatches  by  Express  arrived  here  last 
Saturday;  in  answer  to  which  I  can  only  refer  you 
to  my  former  Letters  respecting  the  Expedition 
against  Pluggy’s  Town  and  as  that  Business  is,  by 
order  of  Congress  laid  aside,  You  must  on  that  ac- 

91  This  was  in  reply  to  the  following  postscript  to  the  letter 
mentioned  in  the  foregoing  note:  “The  County  Lieutenant 
who  is  ordered  to  send  100  men  to  meet  Cap.  Lynn  with  the 
Powder,  is  at  a  loss  to  know  how  far  to  proceed,  or  where  St. 
Louis,  on  the  Mississippi  is — there  being  one  place  of  that 
name  160  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Ohio  &  no  settlement  or 
Fort  less  than  400  miles  below  the  Ohio — the  nearest  is  at  the 
River  Arkansa.” — Ed. 

92  This  letter,  copied  by  Morgan,  was  forwarded  to  Col. 
David  Shepherd  for  his  perusal. — Ed. 


PROTECTING  THE  FRONTIERS 


249 


count  incur  no  further  Expence,  indeed,  as  the  Let¬ 
ter  alluded  to  must  have  got  to  your  Hands  soon 
after  the  present  Express  set  off  I  am  in  hopes  it 
will  give  you  full  satisfaction  with  regard  to  all  your 
Inquiries. 

We  are  just  informed  by  Congress  that  they  for 
some  time  past,  have  had  the  critical  situation  at  Fort 
Pitt,  under  their  consideration  and  have  formed  a 
Resolution  of  sending  one  thousand  Rifles  for  the  use 
of  the  garrison,  and  for  supplying  such  of  the  mili¬ 
tia,  as  may  be  hereafter  called  upon  to  defend  that 
Post.98  I  am  Sir 

Your  mo.  ob*.  Serv*. 

P.  Henry 

To  Col°.  John  Nevill  at  Fort  Pitt 
On  public  Service  P.  Express 


DEPREDATIONS  ON  THE  FRONTIER 

[Col.  William  Crawford  to  President  of  Congress.  14S121  — 

transcript  by  L.  C.  D.] 

Fort  Pitt,  22nd  April,  1777. 

Honorable  Sir — Having  received  orders  to  join 
his  Excellency  General  Washington  in  the  Jerseys 
with  the  battalion  now  under  my  command,  which 
orders  I  would  willingly  have  obeyed,  had  not  a  coun¬ 
cil  of  war  held  at  this  place  (proceedings  of  which 
were  transmitted  to  Congress  by  express)  resolved 

03  See  resolution  of  Congress  April  9,  1777,  in  Journals ,  vii, 
p.  247. — Ed. 


250 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


that  I  should  remain  here  until  further  orders.94  I 
am  sorry  to  find  the  accounts  therein  contained  are 
likely  to  prove  but  too  true,  and  from  the  late  dep¬ 
redations  and  murders  which  were  committed  by  the 
Indians  at  different  places  in  this  neighbourhood, 
makes  it  appear  to  me  as  if  a  general  irruption  was 
threatened.  On  the  6th  &  7th  instant,  they  killed  and 
scalped  one  man  at  Raccoon  Creek,  about  twenty  five 
miles  from  this  place ;  at  Muchmore’s  plantation, 
about  forty  five  miles  down  the  Ohio,  they  killed  and 
scalped  one  man,  and  burnt  a  woman  and  her  four 
children ;  at  Wheeling  they  killed  and  scalped  one  man, 
the  body  of  whom  was  much  mangled  with  tomahawks 
and  other  instruments  suitable  for  their  barbarity;95 


84  For  a  brief  sketch  of  Col.  William  Crawford  see  Dun - 
mores  War ,  p.  103,  note  48.  Crawford,  at  first  appointed  lieu¬ 
tenant-colonel  of  the  5th  Virginia,  next  took  command  of 
the  7th  regiment.  He  was  sent  to  West  Augusta  in  the 
autumn  of  1776  to  raise  a  new  contingent,  later  known  as  the 
13th  (or  West  Augusta)  regiment,  enlisted  on  condition  that  if 
an  Indian  war  should  occur  in  the  spring  this  command  was 
to  be  retained  in  the  West.  The  council  of  war  to  which 
Crawford  refers  was  held  at  Fort  Pitt,  March  24,  when  it  was 
determined  that  in  view  of  the  threatened  dangers  Crawford 
and  his  men  should  be  retained  on  the  frontier ;  see  Butter¬ 
field,  Washington-Crawford  Letters,  p.  65,  note.  This  letter 
is  also  printed  in  that  collection.  In  August,  Crawford’s 
regiment  joined  Washington  near  Philadelphia. — Ed. 

95  For  further  particulars  of  these  murders,  see  extract 
from  Maryland  Journal,  post.  Shadrach  Muchmore  died  in 
1775,  when  his  will  was  proven  in  West  Augusta  district.  His 
widow  appears  to  have  married  again,  probably  to  a  man 
named  Arnot.  A  son,  Jonathan  Muchmore,  was  captive 
among  the  Indians ;  see  his  affidavit  in  Beaver  County,  p.  15*- 

The  man  killed  at  Raccoon  Creek  was  a  late  emigrant  from 
New  Jersey,  named  Ogden.  The  one  slain  near  Wheeling  was 
Roger  McBride. 

The  Delawares  had  warned  the  settlements  that  a  party  of 


PROTECTING  THE  FRONTIERS 


251 


at  Dunkard’s  Creek,  one  of  the  west  Branches  of  the 
Monongahela  river,  they  killed  and  scalped  one  man 
and  a  woman  and  took  three  children;90  and  at  each 
of  the  above  places  they  burned  houses,  killed  cattle, 
hogs  &c. 

I  have  taken  all  possible  means  for  the  protection 
of  this  country,  as  the  nature  of  my  circumstances 
would  afford.  I  am  at  a  great  loss  for  arms ;  two  thirds 
of  the  battalion  have  none.  Had  I  been  at  this  post 
when  the  accounts  of  the  above  cruelties  came  here, 
I  would  have  transmitted  them  immediately  to  you; 
but  being  busily  employed  in  putting  the  battalion  to 
proper  stations  for  the  frontiers,97  this  together  with 
my  bad  state  of  health  prevented  my  getting  here 
sooner  than  the  18th  instant,  and  finding  that  no  au¬ 
thentic  accounts  had  been  transmitted  to  Congress, 
think  it  my  duty  to  inform  you  of  the  above  facts, 
and  that  I  only  wait  further  directions,  as  I  have  re¬ 
ceived  no  marching  orders  dated  since  the  council 
held  at  this  place  resolved  that  I  should  wait  till 
further  orders. 

I  am  with  the  greatest  respect  yr.  honours  most 
obet.  and  very  humble  serv*. 

W.  Crawford 

Hon.  J.  Hancock,  Pres*.  Congress 

eighteen  Mingo  were  out  with  murderous  intent;  but  the 
warning  was  not  in  time.  See  Hildreth,  Pioneer  History,  p 
123. — Ed. 

90  This  was  probably  the  attack  on  the  family  of  William 
Morgan,  assigned  to  the  year  1778.  See  Thwaites,  Withers's 
Chronicles  of  Border  Warfare,  p.  240. — Ed. 

07  The  council  of  war  of  March  24  had  determined  that 
Crawford  should  send  a  hundred  men  to  Kittanning,  and  sta¬ 
tion  twenty-five  each  at  Logstown,  Holliday's  Cove,  and  Cox's, 
upon  the  Ohio. — Ed. 


252 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


[Col.  George  Morgan  to  Col.  David  Shepherd.  1SS56  — 

A.  L.  S.l 

Fort  Pitt  May  3d.  1777 

Sir — The  within  letter  Col1  Nevill  forwarded  to 
me  supposing  it  was  intended  for  me  &  directed  to 
him  by  mistake.  Mr.  Macaster  arrived  yesterday  & 
as  you  had  sent  him  &  I  did  not  write  to  the  Govr. 
at  all  by  him,  &  he  tells  me  he  has  no  Letter  directed 
for  you  I  suppose  this  was  designed  for  you.  I 
therefore  embrace  this  first  opportunity  of  sending 
it  to  you.98  I  desire  you  will  store  the  Bacon  you 
have  bought  in  a  very  safe  place  under  your  own 
particular  Care  till  further  Orders  &  shall  be  glad  to 
sug[gest  that]  we  may  settle  &  that  I  may  take  your 
Receipt  for  the  Quantity 

I  am  Dr.  Sir  Your  most  ob1  Servant 

Geo:  Morgan 

To  Col1  Shepherd. 


[Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.  4NN54 — 

A.  L.  S.] 


May  7  1777 

Dear  Sir — As  Cap1  Lin  is  Got  up  with  his  Pow¬ 
der99  and  no  call  for  the  men  Down  the  River  you 
will  Pleast  to  Continue  your  Company  at  Grave 


98  This  refers  to  Gov.  Patrick  Henry’s  letter  to  Col.  John 
Neville,  dated  April  21,  ante.  The  letter  of  Morgan  is  written 
on  the  reverse  of  that  sheet. — Ed. 

99  Linn  arrived  at  Wheeling  May  2,  1777.  He  brought  with 
him  ten  thousand  pounds  of  gunpowder,  according  to  an  affi¬ 
davit  filed  by  Col.  David  Shepherd,  1SS13,  as  follows:  “Ohio 


PROTECTING  THE  FRONTIERS 


253 


Creek  untill  the  Express  Returns  from  the  Govenor 
for  your  being  there  is  Looked  on  as  a  Grate  safe 
Gard  to  us  at  this  time  Pleast  send  scouts  Down 
about  fish  Creek  and  if  you  Should  make  any  Dis¬ 
covery  of  any  of  the  Dam  theeves  cuming  in  Pleast 
send  in  word  Imediately  from  your  friend  and 

Humb  Sar* 

Zack11  Morgan 

To  Capt  William  Harrod,  at  Grave  Creek 


[Transcribed  by  Draper  from  the  Maryland  Journal  of  Tues¬ 
day,  May  20th,  1777.] 

Philadelphia,  May  15. 

By  a  gentleman  lately  arrived  from  the  Ohio,  we 
have  the  following  intelligence.  About  the  beginning 
of  last  month  Mr.  James  O'Hara* 1  was  trading  at  the 

County  June  the  8th  1789  Sir — Agreable  to  an  order  of  Coun¬ 
cil  29th  of  Decemr  1788  I  have  made  Every  Serch  in  my 
power  and  find  Nothing  worth  Making  Return  of  Except  that 
in  the  Blank  &c  of  Blank  year  a  Certain  Lieut  William  Lin 
and  others  from  Orleans  Delivered  at  the  Mouth  of  Weelin 
within  this  County  10000  Weight  or  thereabout  of  gunpowder 
for  the  use  of  the  State  of  Virginia  the  same  was  kept  there 
some  time  and  then  ordred  to  the  Station  of  fort  pitt  by  a 
Continental  officer  Colo  Wm  Crawford.”  The  powder  was  is¬ 
sued  both  by  David  Shepherd  and  Zephaniah  Blackford,  com¬ 
missary  of  stores,  as  is  proven  by  receipts  found  in  Draper 
MSS,  iSS  24-28. — Ed. 

1  James  O’Hara  was  an  Irishman  who  before  1773  entered 
the  Indian  trade  near  Fort  Pitt.  He  enlisted  in  the  9th  Vir¬ 
ginia  regiment,  being  employed  as  quartermaster.  During  the 
Whiskey  Rebellion  he  was  quartermaster-general  of  the  army, 
and  served  in  a  similar  capacity  under  Wayne  (1794). 

O’Hara’s  business  capacity  aided  in  the  building  up  of  Pitts¬ 
burgh,  where  in  1797  he  established  the  first  glass  manufactory 
west  of  the  Alleghenies.  In  1804  he  was  director  of  the  Pitts- 


254 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


Shawanese  towns  on  the  Scioto  where  he  was  in¬ 
formed  that  there  was  a  gang  of  young  Indian  fel¬ 
lows  ready  to  go  to  war,  consisting  of  fifteen  Shaw¬ 
anese,  two  Wiandots,  and  one  Mingo;  Mr.  O’Hara 
was  also  informed  that  they  intended  to  waylay  him 
on  his  return  to  Pittsburgh;  upon  which  he  happily 
changed  his  course,  and  arrived  safe  at  the  above 
place  with  his  people  and  effects.* 2  Two  or  three  days 
after  his  arrival  an  express  came  to  Fort  Pitt,  with 
an  account  that  the  widow  Muchmore  and  her  three 
children,  were  found  almost  burned  to  cinders,  and 
her  late  husband  killed  and  scalped  near  where  the 
house  stood,  opposite  the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek  on 
the  Ohio.  The  same  day  another  express  arrived 
who  brought  an  account  of  a  man  being  found  mur¬ 
dered  near  Wheeling;  also  one  Ogden,  a  Jersey  man, 
was  found  killed  and  scalped  near  the  mouth  of  Rac¬ 
coon  Creek.  All  the  above  murders  were  perpetrated 
on  or  near  the  Ohio.  Two  days  after  the  above  ex¬ 
presses,  another  arrived  from  Dunkard  Creek,  near 
the  mouth  of  Cheat  River,  with  an  account  of  three 
men  being  killed  and  scalped  there,  and  three  others 
missing.  Lieut.  Mason,3  at  the  head  of  ten  'militia, 

burgh  branch  of  the  Philadelphia  bank ;  and  died  in  1819  leav¬ 
ing  a  large  estate,  mainly  in  landed  property,  part  of  which  is 
still  held  by  his  heirs.  His  daughter  married  William  Crog- 
han  Jr.,  nephew  of  George  Rogers  Clark. — Ed. 

2  See  Heckewelder’s  report  of  this  incident  in  his  Narrative, 
pp.  I5S,  156.  The  Wyandot  attempted  to  waylay  O’Hara  near 
the  Delaware  towns,  but  by  the  interposition  of  the  Christian 
Indians,  and  the  Moravian  missionary,  he  escaped. — Ed. 

2  Samuel  Mason  (he  spells  the  name  Meason)  commanded 

a  company  at  Fort  Henry  during  its  first  siege  (Sept.  I,  1 777)  > 
and  was  severely  wounded  in  a  sally  against  ambushed  In¬ 
dians.  In  1778  he  commanded  the  same- fort.  He  appears  to 


PROTECTING  THE  FRONTIERS 


255 


gallantly  followed  the  murderers  of  the  Muchmore 
family,  and  after  a  pursuit  of  twenty-five  miles,  came 
up  with  the  savages,  who  fought  for  some  time  and 
then  gave  way.  Mr.  Mason  and  his  little  party  fol¬ 
lowed  them  some  miles  further,  but  having  no  pro¬ 
visions,  and  being  in  danger  of  falling  into  an  am¬ 
buscade,  returned  to  the  field  of  battle,  where  they 
found  one  dead  Indian,  whom  they  scalped,  some 
horses  and  other  booty  which  the  savages  had  taken 
from  some  white  people.  Mr.  Mason  thinks  that  they 
either  killed  or  desperately  wounded  more  of  the  In¬ 
dians,  as  much  blood  was  seen  on  the  ground.  This 
brave  young  man  was  born  near  Winchester  in  Vir¬ 
ginia,  and  will  no  doubt  meet  a  reward  adequate  to 
his  merit.  Another  party  followed  the  gang  who 
committed  the  murder  near  Cheat,  and  it  is  hoped 
can  give  a  good  account  of  them.  It  was  the  general 
opinion,  that  the  Indians  had  divided  themselves 
into  three  parties,  and  committed  the  murders  much 
about  the  same  time. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  above  mentioned  places  were 
in  the  utmost  consternation ;  some  flying  one  way  and 
9ome  another,  and  a  few  set  about  building  forts; 

have  lived  first  on  Buffalo  Creek,  afterwards  on  Wheeling,  a 
mile  or  so  above  the  town,  where  he  kept  an  ordinary.  At 
the  close  of  the  Revolution  he  removed  southward,  settling 
about  1790  at  Red  Banks,  now  Henderson,  Tenn.,  and  later  on 
the  Mississippi.  Here  he  became  leader  of  a  band  of  highway 
robbers,  and  committed  many  crimes  between  1795  and  1803. 
At  one  time  he  was  captured  by  the  Spanish  authorities,  but 
succeeded  in  escaping.  In  the  latter  year,  a  reward  of  $500 
was  offered  by  the  governor  of  Mississippi  for  his  head. 
Thereupon  he  was  shot  and  beheaded  by  two  of  his  own  gang 
of  desperados.  These  men  were  afterwards  apprehended  and 
hung. — Ed. 


256 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


but  it  is  hoped  that  the  arrival  of  Brigadier  General 
Hand  will  dissipate  all  their  fears,  and  add  life  and 
vigour  to  their  undertakings.4  As  Brigadier  Hand 
is  universally  loved  on  the  Ohio,5  the  people  will  no 
doubt  flock  to  his  standard  and  cheerfully  go  forth 
to  chastise  the  savage  foe. 


4  Upon  the  receipt  of  accounts  of  the  hostile  intent  of  the 
Western  Indians  and  of  the  exposed  condition  of  the  frontiers, 
Congress  resolved  that  an  experienced  officer  should  be  sent 
to  Pittsburgh  to  take  command,  embody  the  militia,  and  plan 
the  defense.  On  April  9,  1777,  the  board  of  war  reported  in 
favor  of  Edward  Hand,  recently  appointed  brigadier-general. 
Congress  voted  a  thousand  rifles  and  five  tons  of  lead  to  be 
sent  to  Fort  Pitt.  Hand  was  (April  10)  ordered  to  this  gar¬ 
rison,  and  the  next  day  given  discretionary  power,  being  voted 
$4000  for  works  or  supplies,  while  three  tons  of  gunpowder 
were  arranged  for. — lournals  of  Congress ,  new  ed.,  vii,  pp. 
247,  252,  256,  270.  Hand  arrived  at  Fort  Pitt,  June  1. — Ed. 

5  Edward  Hand,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Clyduff,  County  Lein¬ 
ster,  Ireland,  Dec.  31,  1744.  Educated  as  a  physician,  he  was 
in  1767  appointed  surgeon’s  mate  of  the  18th  Royal  Irish  in¬ 
fantry,  and  sailing  from  Cork  reached  America  in  July  of  the 
same  year.  The  regiment  was  at  once  ordered  to  Fort  Pitt, 
where  Hand  made  himself  popular  with  all  classes.  In  1772 
he  purchased  an  ensign’s  commission;  but  when  his  regiment 
was  ordered  East  in  1774,  he  resigned  and  received  his  dis¬ 
charge,  settling  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  in  1775  he  married 
Catharine  Ewing.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  he  at 
once  enlisted,  being  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  1st 
battalion  of  Pennsylvania  riflemen.  Joining  Washington  be¬ 
fore  Boston,  he  was  with  the  continental  army  at  Long  Island, 
and  in  the  Jersey  campaign.  In  April,  1777,  he  was  appointed 
brigadier-general  and  sent  to  the  West  as  commander-in-chief. 
Recalled  at  his  own  request  early  in  1778,  he  served  through¬ 
out  the  war,  being  adjutant-general  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 
After  peace  was  declared,  he  retired  to  his  estate  near  Lancas¬ 
ter  and  practiced  medicine.  He  was  a  member  of  the  old 
Congress  in  1784-85  and  of  the  Pennsylvania  constitutional 
convention  of  1790,  and  served  several  terms  in  the  state  leg¬ 
islature.  In  1798  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  major-generals 
of  the  army  in  anticipation  of  a  war  with  France.  General 
Hand  was  of  a  genial  disposition,  popular  with  his  superiors 


PROTECTING  THE  FRONTIERS 


257 


[Col.  Zackwell  Morgan  to  Capt.  William  Harrod.  4NN54 — 

A.  L.  S.] 

May  27  1777 

Dear  Cap1. — I  was  favoured  with  your  Letter  of 
the  22  of  this  instant  by  Mr  M’Laughlin  am  glad  you 
have  Provaled  on  your  men  to  Continue  Longer  as 
we  are  Like  to  have  trubelsum  times  I  shall  set  out 
to  morrow  for  Fort  Pitt  to  meet  the  General  when  I 
shall  be  Better  abel  to  Informe  you  of  what  is  to  be 
dun  and  in  what  Manner  we  are  to  act  I  expect 
there  will  be  several  Companies  to  be  rased  and  hope 
you  will  Still  Continue  I  Pay  but  Littel  Regard  to 
Complantes  untill  Both  Stor[i]es  is  heard  I  have 
not  any  nues  worth  menti[o]ning  At  this  time  to 
vou. 

j 

I  am  Sir  your  Rail  frind  and  Humb.  Sar1 

Zack11.  Morgan 

To  Capt  William  Harrod 

and  subordinates  in  the  army;  his  work  on  the  frontier  was 
hampered  by  causes  beyond  his  control.  He  died  at  his  home, 
“Rockford/'  Sept.  3,  1802. — Ed. 


17 


RETURN  OF  MILITARY  STORES  AT  EORT  PITT 

[1U52. — D.  S.] 


258 


\ 


REVOLUTION  ON  UPPER  OHIO 


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Fort  Pitt  May  1st.  1 777 

Return  of  Military  Stores  remaining  in  the  Magazine. 


INDEX 


Albany  (N.  Y.),  160. 

Albemarle  County  (Va.),  25,  153. 

Alexander,  Capt.  — ,  149. 

Alexander,  Joseph,  225. 

Alexandria  (Va.),  138-140,  142. 

Algonquian  stock,  199. 

Allanawissica,  Shawnee  chief,  26, 
103,  126. 

Allen,  Ethan,  129. 

Almon,  J.,  Remembrancer,  55,  92. 

Alvord,  C.  W.,  discovers  docu¬ 
ments,  228;  Cahokia  Records , 
143,  227. 

Amherst,  Gen.  Jeffrey,  135. 

Amwell  Township  (Pa.),  207. 

Anderson,  Capt.  John,  194,  195. 

Anderson,  William,  231. 

Anderson  County  (Ky.),  227. 

Andrews,  James,  149. 

“Angelica,”  British  vessel,  150. 

Anipassicowa,  Shawnee,  115. 

Arbuckle,  Capt.  Matthew,  194,  198, 
240;  commandant,  175,  176,  178, 
182,  193,  194,  197,  198,  204,  241; 
expedition,  182;  letters,  185-187, 
211,  212;  sketch,  158. 

Arbuckle,  Mrs.  Matthew,  212. 

Arkansas  Post.,  See  Fort  Arkan¬ 
sas. 

Armstrong,  Capt.  — ,  168,  170. 

Armstrong,  Col.  John,  200. 

Armstrong,  Paul,  225. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  expedition,  137. 

Arnot,  — ,  250. 

Aughunta,  Wyandot,  52. 


Augusta  Academy,  10. 

Augusta  County  (Va.),  140,  153, 
175,  183,  221,  235. 

Austergass,  James,  228. 

Avon  (N.  Y.),  161. 

Avone.  See  Canawaugus. 


Baby,  Duperon,  44,  54,  62. 

Baby,  James,  44. 

Baltimore  County  (Md.),  218. 

Battles:  Big  Island,  170.  Blue 

Licks,  154,  175.  Chemung,  161. 
Concord,  10-15.  Fallen  Tim¬ 
bers,  75.  Germantown,  139. 
Lake  Erie,  151.  Lake  George, 
159.  Lexington,  10-15.  Oris- 
kany,  152,  159-161.  Point  Pleas¬ 
ant,  240.  Yorktown,  256. 

Bausman,  Joseph  H.,  History  of 
Beaver  County,  Pa.,  158,  217, 
220,  238,  247,  250. 

Bavard,  James,  63. 

Bawbee,  — ,  educated  in  Virginia, 
126. 

Bayard,  Col.  Stephen,  201. 

Baynton,  Wharton  &  Co.,  31. 

Beard,  Lieut.  — ,  192. 

Beaver,  Delaware  chief,  46. 

Bedford  County  (Pa.),  74,  200. 

Bedford  County  (Va.),  7,  173,  174. 

Belmont,  Virginia  estate,  153. 

Belvidere,  Virginia  estate,  153. 

Berkeley  County  (Va.),  196,  230. 

Bethlehem  (Pa.),  45,  202,  203. 


260 


INDEX 


Big  Appletree,  Mingo  chief,  48. 

Big  Bone  Lick  (Ky.),  189. 

Big  Knife,  Indian  appellation  for 
whites,  15,  77. 

Big  Lick  (Va.),  169. 

Blackfish,  Shawnee  chief,  242. 

Blackford,  Zephaniah,  224,  254. 

Blacksburg  (Va.),  11. 

Blacksnake,  Seneca  chief,  159-167 ; 
poi  trait,  160. 

Black  Wolf,  Mingo  chief,  102. 

Blair,  Archibald,  238,  239. 

Blair,  Rev.  James,  238. 

Bland,  Col.  Richard,  23,  35,  215. 

Bluejacket,  Shawnee  chief,  41,  44. 

Blue  Licks,  lower,  206.  See  also 
Battles. 

Boiling  Springs  (Ky.),  227. 

Bolton,  David,  127,  132,  149. 

Bondy,  Joseph  Douaire  de,  148. 

Boone,  Daniel,  16,  177,  186,  187 ; 
cuts  road,  2,  9;  captured,  4,  144. 

Boone,  Jemima,  187,  189,  205. 

Boonesborough  (Ky.),  2,  102,  187, 
205,  227,  242. 

Botetourt  County  (Va.),  8,  17, 
155-157,  168,  169,  174,  175,  177, 
183,  184,  197. 

Bowman,  George,  170. 

Bowman,  Capt.  John,  154,  170. 

Bowyer,  Henry,  17. 

Boyd,  John,  225. 

Braddock,  Gen.  Edward,  expedi¬ 
tion,  22,  36,  136,  207 ;  battlefield, 
191. 

Bradstreet,  Col.  John,  133,  134, 
150,  151. 

Brady,  Samuel,  201,  202,  230. 

Brady’s  Bend,  160. 

Braxton,  Carter,  23,  146. 

Brenton  (Brinton),  James,  231. 

Bridgeport  (O.),  217. 

Brinton.  See  Brenton. 

Brodhead,  Daniel,  46,  196,  201,  234, 
235. 

Brothertown  Indians,  62. 

Brown,  Rev.  John,  10-12. 


Brown,  Capt.  Samuel,  179,  181, 
182. 

Brown,  Col.  Thomas,  233. 
Brownsville  (Pa.),  233. 

Bryant’s  Station  (Ky.),  154. 
Buffalo  Historical  Society,  161. 
Bullitt  County  (Ky.),  180. 
Burgoyne,  Gen.  John,  96,  153. 
Burr,  Aaron,  32. 

Butler,  Col.  John,  152,  172. 

Butler,  Richard,  55,  63,  64,  158; 

sketch,  151. 

Butler,  William,  151. 

Butterfield,  C.  W.,  Washington- 
Crawford  Letters ,  250. 

Byrnside,  Capt.  — ,  240. 


Cabell,  William,  23. 

Caldwell,  James,  224. 

Caldwell,  Col.  John,  67,  69,  135. 
Caldwell,  Mary,  246. 

Caldwell,  Col.  William,  44. 
Callaway,  Elizabeth,  187,  189,  205. 
Callaway,  Frances,  187,  189,  205. 
Callaway,  Col.  James,  173. 
Callaway,  Col.  Richard,  186. 
Callaway,  William,  173. 

Cameron,  Allen,  138. 

Campbell,  Col.  Arthur,  102. 
Campbell,  Capt.  Donald,  201. 
Campbell,  Col.  John,  230-233. 
Campbell,  Robert,  230,  231,  237, 
245. 

Campeau,  Jacques,  148. 

Campeau,  Jean  B.,  148. 

Campeau  family,  148. 

Camp  Union  (Fort  Charles, 
Levels,  Savannah),  178,  181,  184. 
192,  197,  198,  204,  209. 
Canajoharie  (N.  Y.),  raid,  159- 
161. 

Canawaugus  (Avone),  Indian  vil¬ 
lage,  160-162,  167. 

Canon,  Col.  John,  221-223,  233. 
Canonsburg  (Pa.),  221. 


INDEX 


261 


Captain  Jacobs,  Delaware  chief, 

200. 

Captain  Pipe,  Delaware  chief,  80, 
88,  126,  127. 

Carleton,  Gen.  Guy,  23,  24,  127-135, 
141;  sketch,  96,  97. 

Carlisle  (Pa.),  191,  200. 

Carnahan,  James,  200. 

Carnahan,  Col.  John,  200. 

Carrington,  Paul,  23,  146. 

Castle  Hill  (Va.),  25. 

Catfish,  Delaware  chief,  61. 

Cattaraugus  County  (N.  Y.),  159. 

Caughnawaga  (N.  Y.),  171,  172. 

Caughnawaga  (Que.),  65. 

Caughnawaga  (Cochawawagas) 
Indians,  81,  82,  199,  219. 

C€loron,  Pierre  Joseph,  26,  158. 

Champaign  County  (O.),  240. 

Chapoton,  Jean  Baptiste,  148. 

Charleston  (W.  Va.),  184. 

Chau  Chau  Chau  sadea.  See  Fly¬ 
ing  Crow. 

Chautauqua  portage,  158. 

Chenusaw,  Shawnee  hostage,  34, 
39,  42,  57-60. 

Cherokee  Indians,  sell  lands,  1-4, 
53;  hostile,  15,  156,  170,  173,  175, 
176,  186,  187;  robberies,  15,  104; 
towns,  179. 

Cherry  Valley  (N.  Y.),  raid,  159, 
160. 

Chew,  Colby,  246. 

Chew,  Maj.  James,  246. 

Chew,  Thomas,  246. 

Chillicothe  (O.),  57. 

Chiningue.  See  Logstown. 

Chippewa  (Saulteur)  Indians,  217; 
at  Fort  Pitt,  201;  neutral,  70, 
71;  hostile,  190,  199;  captive, 
203;  sketch,  131. 

Chiswell  lead  mines,  155,  173. 

Christian,  Col.  William,  16;  letters 
to,  7,  8,  17 ;  militia  colonel,  8, 
21;  sketch,  5. 

Cincinnati  (O.),  202,  231. 


Circleville  (O.),  57. 

Clark,  George  Rogers,  expedi¬ 
tions,  15,  130,  136,  141,  144,  145, 
149,  154,  179,  227,  228,  232,  235; 
delegate,  206;  nephew,  254; 
diary ,  227. 

Clark’s  Grant  (Ind.),  232. 

Claus,  Capt.  Daniel,  131. 

Cleveland  (O.j,  68. 

Clover  Lick  (Va.),  205. 

Cold  Spring  (N.  Y.),  159. 

Connolly,  Maj.  John,  18-20,  40,  43, 
152 ;  letter,  71-73 ;  letter  to,  16 ; 
treats  with  Indians,  35-38,  68; 
buys  land,  231;  plot,  136-142; 
Narrative,  19,  139. 

Continental  Congress,  Journals  of, 
145,  217,  247,  249,  256. 

Conococheague  (Pa.),  228. 

Conwell,  Yates,  224. 

Cook,  John,  letter,  205,  206. 

Cooper,  James,  186,  189. 

Corn,  Ebenezer,  227. 

Cornplanter  (John  O’Bail),  Seneca 
chief,  39,  160-165;  portrait,  162. 

Cornstalk,  Shawnee  chief,  26;  let¬ 
ter  for,  7 ;  at  Fort  Blair,  14,  15, 
103,  104;  message  to,  70,  74;  at 
Fort  Pitt,  36,  41,  71,  76 ;  speeches, 
42,  74,  75,  92,  93,  100-105,  111, 
113-116;  with  Wilson,  202; 
treats  with  English,  187 ;  sketch, 
7. 

Coronyatta,  Wyandot,  52. 

Coshocton  (Goshachgunk),  45,  46. 
124,  196. 

Cox,  Maj.  Gabriel,  233. 

Cox’s  Station,  251. 

Coyashota.  See  Guyashusta. 

Cracroft,  Capt.  Charles,  235. 

Crawford,  Col.  William,  surveys, 
5,  153;  in  Dunmore’s  War,  56; 
continental  officer,  216,  234,  253; 
letter,  249-251;  Sandusky  expe¬ 
dition,  91,  234;  death,  46,  80; 
sketch,  250. 


262 


INDEX 


Creek  Indians,  45. 

Creeks:  Beaver,  86.  Big  Beaver, 
43.  Big  Sandy,  163.  Buffalo, 
162,  255.  Catfish,  230.  Chartier, 
22.  Corcosan  (Caucussing),  48. 
Cross  (W.  Va.),  217,  218.  Dun- 
kard,  212,  251,  254.  Elk  (W. 
Va.),  184.  Fish  (W.  Va.),  207, 
208,  212,  213;  garrison,  221; 
scouting,  253;  raid,  217.  Fish¬ 
ing  (W.  Va.),  207,  208,  212,  220. 
French  (Pa.),  158,  162,  163. 

Grave  (W.  Va.),  228,  234 — see 
also  Fort  Grave  Creek.  Ham¬ 
mond  (Ky.),  227.  Indian 

(Va.),  178,  181.  Killbuck  (O.), 
48.  Loramie  (O.),  15,  144. 

Meadow  (Va.),  182.  Middle  Is¬ 
land  (W.  Va.),  212,  213. 

Muddy  (Va.),  178,  181,  182, 

193 — see  also  Fort  Muddy. 
Paint  (Ky.),  14.  Paint  (Va.), 
183.  Pine  (Pa.),  27.  Raccoon 
(Va.),  231,  250,  254.  Robinson 
(Pa.),  231.  Sandy  (W.  Va.),  6, 
13,  14.  Short  (W.  Va.),  234. 
Ten  Mile  (W.  Va.),  231.  Wal- 
honding — see  White  Woman’s. 
Walkers  (Va.),  179.  Wheeling 
(W.  Va.),  196,  232,  235,  242,  255- 
see  also  Fort  Henry,  Wheeling. 
White  Woman’s  (O.),  48.  Wolf 
(Va.),  177.  Yellow  (O.),  254. 
Cresap,  Capt.  Michael,  232,  233. 
Cr£vecceur,  Hector  St.  John  de, 
map,  frontispiece,  48,  63. 
Crockett,  Capt.  Walter,  168,  169. 
Croghan,  George,  15,  26,  28,  171. 
Croghan,  William,  254. 

Crooke,  Capt.  Thomas,  235. 
Crumrine,  Boyd,  Washington 
County,  Pa.,  223,  230. 
Cumberland  (Pa.),  151. 
Cumberland  County  (Pa.),  144, 
171,  191,  200. 

Cumberland  Gap  (Ky.),  2. 


Cumberland  settlement  (Tenn.), 
3. 

Custaloga,  Delaware  chief,  80. 
Cuttena  (Cuttemwha),  Shawnee 
hostage,  39,  42,  43,  57-59. 
Cuyahoga  (Kacayuga),  62.  See 
also  Cuyahoga  River. 


Dalzell,  Capt.  James,  218. 

Dandridge,  Dorothea,  7. 

Danville  (Ky.),  154. 

Darlington,  W.  P.,  GisPs  Journals, 
48. 

Dartmouth.  Lord,  letter  to,  65. 

Davidson,  George,  182. 

Davis,  James,  225. 

Dean,  Capt.  — ,  192. 

De  Jean,  Philip,  148,  149. 

Delaware  (O.),  56. 

Delaware  Indians,  19,  28,  29,  39, 
45,  52,  54,  62,  66,  116,  129,  130, 
158,  171,  174;  lands,  40.  62,  86. 
87 ;  towns,  37,  43,  45,  46,  125,  127, 
199,  200,  244;  clans,  88;  lan¬ 
guage,  64;  missions,  45,  202 — see 
also  Moravians ;  hostile,  61, 
124;  pacific,  156,  188;  warn  set¬ 
tlements,  44,  245,  250;  consulted, 
237;  treat  with  Connolly,  35,  37; 
at  treaty  of  1775,  76,  80.  82,  86, 
92,  94,  108,  113,  114,  120-122; 
speech,  46,  47 ;  speech  to,  46,  47, 
98;  message  to,  80,  152,  202;  at 
treaty  of  1776.  217,  219 ;  ask  pro¬ 
tection,  203,  244. 

De  Peyster,  Arent  Schuyler,  128. 
130. 

Desnoyers,  Pierre,  131. 

Desnoyers  family,  131. 

Detroit,  44,  68,  74,  101,  128,  130. 
137,  141,  150,  199,  202,  203,  218; 
founded,  131;  in  Pontiac’s  War, 
134,  201,  203;  Indians  at,  36, 
155,  187 ;  commandant,  136, 

158;  garrison,  147,  148,  218; 


INDEX 


militia,  132,  148,  149;  expe¬ 

dition  against,  145,  147,  172,  189; 
merchants,  149,  150;  captive  at, 
231;  taken  by  English,  134; 
Americans,  95.  See  also  Fort 
Detroit. 

Devil’s  Hole  Massacre,  159,  160. 

Dickenson  College  (Pa.),  191. 

Digges,  Dudley,  23,  146. 

Dinwiddie,  Gov.  Robert,  4,  66. 

Dobie,  — ,  134. 

Doctor,  Mohawk  Indian,  67. 

Dodge,  John,  55,  92,  143. 

Donelson,  Col.  John,  3. 

Donelson,  Rachel,  3. 

Donnally,  Andrew,  183,  184;  let¬ 
ters,  209,  210. 

Dorchester,  Lord.  See  Carleton. 

Dragging  Canoe,  Cherokee  In¬ 
dian,  2. 

Draper,  Lyman  C.,  2,  25;  visits 
Blacksnake,  159;  Life  of  Boone , 
187. 

Draper’s  Meadows  (Va.),  11. 

Drouillard,  George,  128. 

Drouillard,  Pierre,  128. 

Duncan,  David,  61. 

Dunmore,  Earl  of,  governor  of 
Virginia,  1,  17,  19-21,  34,  36-40, 
56,  59,  74,  98,  99,  106,  116,  118, 
119,  121;  disputes  with  Virginia, 
11,  41,  57;  orders  forts  evacu¬ 
ated,  13;  messages  to  Indians, 
7,  71-74;  Connolly  with,  137-140, 
142;  War  of  1774,  15,  28,  39-41, 
49,  61,  81,  93,  124,  143,  147,  177, 
179,  182,  204;  sketch,  1. 

“Dunmore,”  British  vessel,  149. 


East  Florida,  governor,  138. 
Economy  (Pa.),  27. 

Elliot,  Matthew,  74. 

Enoch,  Capt.  Enoch,  207. 
Enoch,  Henry,  207,  235. 
Eppes,  Francis,  22. 

Erie  (Pa.),  151,  158,  162. 


Evans,  Capt.  Jack,  234. 
Evans,  Maj.  John,  234. 
Ewing,  Catharine,  256. 


Falls  of  Ohio,  46,  226,  227,  231, 
232.  See  also  Louisville. 

Fauquier  County  (Va.),  154. 

Fayette  County  (Ky.),  154. 

Fayette  County  (Pa.),  207,  230, 
232,  234. 

Ferguson  (Farquharson),  — ,  134. 

Field,  Ezekiel,  51,  98. 

Filson  Club,  Publications,  2. 

Fincastle  County  (Va.),  5,  8,  16, 
21,  23,  167-169,  172,  173. 

Finley,  Dr.  Samuel,  12. 

Fleming,  Mrs.  Anne,  17. 

Fleming,  Col.  William,  county 
lieutenant,  184,  197,  20C;  letters, 
168,  169,  174-176,  179,  180,  184, 
192,  193,  209,  210;  letters  to,  12- 
17,  156,  157,  167-169,  177,  178, 
181-183,  185-187,  193,  196-199,  204, 
205,  209,  214-216,  239-241 ;  sketch, 
12. 

Flood,  Michael,  225. 

Floyd,  Capt.  John,  5,  6,  153,  154. 

Flying  Crow  (Chau  chau  chau  sa- 
dea),  Seneca  chief,  90,  91,  99, 
107,  108. 

Fonda  (N.  Y.),  171. 

Forbes,  Gen.  John,  expedition 
(1758),  145,  171,  191,  230. 

Force,  Peter,  American  Archives, 
8,  13,  18,  19,  21,  65.  67,  90,  95, 
126,  136,  137,  139,  143-145,  151, 
158,  170,  171,  186,  216. 

Foreman,  Capt.  William,  91,  145. 

Forts:  Arbuckle’s,  181.  Arkan¬ 
sas,  226.  Armstrong,  201.  Beech 
Bottom.  243,  244.  Blair,  loca¬ 
tion,  7 ;  commandant,  7,  12,  103, 
106,  111,  112;  provisioned,  5,  6; 
garrison,  4,  7 ;  evacuated,  13-17 ; 

■^burned,  93,  111,  117,  185 — see 
also  Fort  Randolph,  Point 


264 


INDEX 


Forts— Continued . 

Pleasant.  Charles — see  Camp 
Union.  Chartres  (Ill.),  137,  141. 
Clark,  141.  Crown  Point,  54. 
Culbertson’s,  180.  Detroit,  54, 
55,  62,  97,  126,  137,  150,  151- 
see  also  Detroit.  Dillow,  231. 
Donnally,  182,  184,  192,  193. 

'Dunmore,  6,  13,  142 — see  also 
Fort  Pitt.  Duquesne,  27,  163. 
Enoch,  207.  Erie,  150,  151.  Fin- 
castle,  13,  138,  142 — see  also 
Fort  Henry,  Wheeling.  Frank¬ 
lin,  163.  Freelands,  160.  Front- 
enac,  134.  Gage,  137,  141.  Grave 
Creek,  195,  207,  208,  210,  213,  214, 
220-225,  235,  242-245,  252,  253. 
Henry,  145,  196,  207,  234,  254- 
see  also  Wheeling.  Laurens,  41. 
Le  Boeuf,  158.  Machault,  162. 
McIntosh,  231.  Muddy  Creek, 
197,  198.  Niagara,  24,  131,  135, 
162;  commandant,  152;  captured, 

151,  159;  Indians  at,  65,  67-70, 

171,  172;  reinforced,  218;  raids 
from,  158,  245.  Oswegatchie, 

131,  132.  Oswego,  134.  Ouiat- 
-anon,  158.  Pjfr  19,  20,  64,  135, 
136,  139,  144,  151,  158,  159,  226, 
241,  254;  garrison  disbanded, 
20,  66;  American  garrison,  21, 
112,  125,  145,  230,  231;  rein¬ 
forced,  166,  167,  256;  contractor, 
61;  commissary,  231,  245;  trade 
at,  151,  253;  endangered,  138, 
196,  200,  219,  249;  Indian  agent, 

152,  158;  private  claims.  143; 
treaty  called  for,  50,  53,  55,  56, 
59,  66-68,  78,  79;  Wood  at,  35,  42, 
43,  65;  stores,  253,  258;  council 
of  war,  249-151 ;  conference,  ISO- 
167,  171,  200,  201;  Indian  prison¬ 
ers,  49;  news  from,  189,  205,  206, 
210 — see  also  Pittsburgh,  and 
Treaties.  Presqu’Isle,  151,  158, 
162.  Prickett,  235.  Randolph, 
attacked,  91,  197 ;  endangered. 


219;  reinforced,  204,  205,  209, 
214,  230,  231,  239-241;  news 

from,  185,  211,  212,  241;  depre¬ 
dations  near,  26,  210,  213, 

217 ;  sketch,  185 — see  also 
Point  Pleasant.  Sandusky,  218. 
Schuyler,  159.  Shepherd,  145. 
Statler,  235.  Stephenson,  218. 
Ticonderoga,  54,  215.  Vanbib- 
ber,  192.  Van  Metre,  234.  Ven¬ 
ango,  163.  Wells,  218. 

Frankfort  (Ky.),  154. 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  23. 

Franklin  (Pa.),  162,  163. 

Franklin  Township  (Pa.),  207. 

Frazer,  John,  162. 

Frederick  (Md.),  136,  139,  235. 

Frederick  County  (Va.),  20,  22, 
43,  170. 


Gaddis,  Col.  Thomas,  234. 

Gage,  Gen.  Thomas,  135-137,  139, 
140. 

“Gage,”  British  vessel,  127,  149. 

Galloway,  John,  194,  198. 

Gambel,  Thomas,  135,  136. 

Gates,  Gen.  Horatio,  143. 

Geneva  (N.  Y.),  160. 

George  III  (England),  proclama¬ 
tion  of  1763,  4,  5. 

Georgetown  vMd.),  136. 

Gibson,  Capt.  George,  73,  144, 
145,  223,  226,  233 ;  sketch,  144. 

Gibson,  Col.  John,  26,  126,  144,  152; 
at  Williamsburgh,  155,  156;  let¬ 
ters  to,  71-73,  137 ;  trading  post, 
27,  65. 

Gilmore,  — ,  214. 

Girty,  Simon,  interpreter,  28,  43, 
67;  escapes  to  British,  74;  kills 
Rogers,  232;  sketch,  28. 

Gist,  Christopher,  15. 

Givens,  Anne,  183. 

Givens,  Capt.  George,  192,  193. 
197,  198,  209. 

Givens  family,  193. 


INDEX 


265 


Gladwin,  Maj.  Henry,  203. 

Glen,  Joseph,  225. 

Gnadenhutten  (O.),  45,  63,  203. 

Goshen  (O.),  38,  45. 

Grant,  Capt.  Alexander,  132. 

Granville  County  (N.  C.),  2. 

Great  Lakes,  shipping,  127,  132, 
149,  150. 

Green,  Isaac,  210,  213. 

Green  Bay  (Wis.),  199. 

Greenbrier  (Va.),  113,  197,  239; 
settlements,  loo,  192,  193,  198 ; 
alarmed,  156,  177-181,  204. 

Greenbrier  County  (Va.),  183. 

Greenbrier  levels.  See  Camp 
Union. 

Greene  County  (Pa.),  235. 

Greenville  (O.),  202. 

Gregory,  Capt.  Daniel,  183. 

Grosse  Pointe  (Mich.),  132. 

Guyashusta  (Coyashota,  Kiasola, 
Kyashota),  Seneca  Indian,  31, 
126;  speech,  108,  110,  111,  118- 
120,  122,  123;  visits  Niagara,  151, 
152,  171,  172. 

Guy  Park  (N.  Y.),  estate,  65. 


Hagerstown  (Md.),  136. 

Haldimand,  Sir  Frederick,  96,  128, 
136,  148. 

Half  King,  Wyandot  chief,  91,  92, 
203. 

Hamilton,  Capt.  Andrew,  193,  205, 
206. 

Hamilton,  Henry,  Detroit  com¬ 
mandant,  147,  149;  letter,  127- 
135;  captured.  128,  130,  149; 
council  with  Indians,  202; 
sketch,  135;  portrait,  128. 

Hamilton,  S.  M.,  Letters  to  Wash¬ 
ington ,  19. 

Hammond,  Nathan,  226,  227. 

Hampshire  County  (Va.),  207, 

232. 

Hancock,  John,  letter  to,  249,  251. 


Hand,  Gen.  Edward,  193,  200,  231, 
256,  257. 

Hands  Meadows,  169. 

Hanley,  Capt.  — ,  192. 

Hannastown  (Pa.),  18. 

Hanover  County  (Va.),  7. 

Hardman,  Shawnee  chief,  57-61, 

202. 

Hargess,  Capt.  — ,  207. 

Harkness,  John,  225. 

Harmar,  Josiah,  41. 

Harper’s  Ferry  (Md.),  235. 

Harris,  James,  225. 

Harris,  Mary,  48. 

Harris,  Samuel,  224. 

Harris,  Stephen,  225. 

Harrison,  Col.  Benjamin,  23,  209. 

Harrod,  Capt.  James,  43. 

Harrod,  Capt.  William,  commis¬ 
sion,  145,  146;  returns  from 

Kentucky,  198;  letters  to,  206, 
207,  218-221,  245,  246,  252,  253, 
257 ;  station,  235 ;  petitions  to, 
224,  225;  orders,  221-223,  226- 
230. 

Harrodsburgh  (Ky.),  43,  170,  206, 
227,  228,  242. 

Harvie,  John,  153,  191. 

Hastings,  Marquis  of.  See  Raw- 
don. 

tflay,  Jehu,  130,  131,  133,  149. 

Hazard,  Samuel,  Register  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  191,  246. 

Heart,  Capt.  Jonathan,  163. 

Heckewelder,  John,  Narrative , 
87,  95,  126,  202;  sketch,  202. 

Henderson,  James,  183. 

Henderson,  John,  183. 

Henderson,  Col.  Richard,  1-4,  16. 

Henderson  (Tenn.),  255. 

Hendrick,  Mohawk  chief,  131. 

Henry,  Patrick,  7,  11,  21,  23;  gov¬ 
ernor  of  Virginia,  146,  210;  let¬ 
ters,  223,  232,  233,  236,  238,  239, 
244,  245,  247-249,  252 ;  orders, 
226;  letters  to,  212-214,  242,  243; 
portrait,  232. 


266 


INDEX 


Herbert,  Capt.  — ,  183. 

Heron,  James,  55. 

Hickman,  Molly,  29. 

Hildreth,  Samuel  P.,  Pioneer  His¬ 
tory,  32,  217,  246,  247,  251. 

Hite,  Joist,  170. 

Hite  family,  196. 

Holliday’s  Cove,  251. 

Hord,  Capt.  John,  235. 

Howard,  Capt.  John,  134. 

Howe,  Gen.  William,  139,  215. 
Howell,  Abner,  229. 

Huggins,  William,  179,  181. 
Huron  Indians.  See  Wyandot. 


Illinois  country,  31,  143,  149;  gar¬ 
rison,  137,  141. 

Illinois  County  (Va.),  228. 

Illinois  Historical  Collections,  227. 

Indiana  Company,  31. 

Ingles,  Col.  William,  14,  17. 

Iroquois  Indians,  36;  sell  lands, 
53,  61,  65;  disposition,  70,  245; 
headship,  123;  missions,  45, 
131;  agent,  152;  language,  131; 
neutrality,  162-167,  172;  at 

treaty  of  1775,  80,  82,  85,  87,  89- 
92,  99,  107,  108,  113-119,  121,  122 ; 
of  1776,  216 ;  speech  to,  109,  121, 
124.  See  also  Mingo  and  Seneca. 

Islands:  Big,  175.  Montour’s 

(Neville’s),  23,  28,  153. 


Jackson,  Andrew,  3. 

Jacobs,  John  J.,  Michael  Cresap, 
25. 

January,  Mrs.  Ezekiel,  176. 
Jefferson,  Thomas,  23,  143,  153, 
215. 

Jefferson  College,  221. 

Jesuit  missionaries,  141,  147. 
Jogues,  Isaac,  Jesuit  missionary, 
171,  172. 

Johnson,  Guy,  65,  67,  246. 
Johnson,  Sir  John,  152. 


Johnson,  Sir  William,  65,  74,  80, 
91,  99,  124,  131,  152,  159,  171. 
Jonnston,  J.  Stoddard,  First  Ex¬ 
plorations  of  Kentucky,  2. 
Johnston,  William,  182. 

Jones,  Rev.  David,  Visits,  57. 
Jones,  Gabriel,  153. 

Jones,  John  Gabriel,  206. 

Jones,  Joseph,  146. 

Jones,  Morgan,  224. 


Kalalamint,  Delaware  chief,  88. 

Kanawha  County  (W.  Va.),  184. 

Karr,  Matthew,  224. 

Kataaw^a,  Shawnee,  103. 

Kaskaskia  (Ill.),  137,  141,  143, 
145,  154,  227,  229;  sketch,  227, 
228. 

Kelley,  Thady,  230,  231,  233. 

Kelly’s  settlement,  241. 

Kenightie,  Iroquois,  126. 

Kenton,  Simon,  48,  128. 

Kents,  — ,  169. 

Kentucky,  128,  213;  lands  pur¬ 
chased,  1-4;  explored,  2,  117, 
246;  road  to,  2,  8;  early  settlers, 
2,  7,  9,  61,  111,  112,  226;  surveys, 
4,  5;  boundary,  6;  removal  to, 
10,  16;  raids,  9,  15,  16,  56,  104, 
106,  175,  176,  179,  186,  187,  199, 
206,  242;  forts,  53;  alarm,  153, 
154;  abandoned,  198,  205,  206; 
militia,  170;  legislature,  2,  232. 

Kentucky  County  (Va.),  8,  154. 

Kerr,  Matthew,  225. 

Kiasola.  See  Guyashusta. 

Kickapoo  Indians,  3,  158. 

Kightor,  Iroquois,  126. 

Killbuck,  Delaware  chief,  38.  46. 
124;  sketch,  38. 

King  George  County  (Va.),  146. 

Kiscapoo  (Kiskapookee,  Kispa- 
po),  town,  63,  201. 

Kishanosity.  See  Hardman. 

Kisquaquawha,  Shawnee  chief. 
102,  103. 


INDEX 


267 


Kittanning,  200,  201,  245,  251. 
Knox,  George,  225. 

Knox,  Thomas,  225. 


Labadie,  Angeline,  128. 

La  Demoiselle,  Miami  chief,  15. 
Lakes:  Erie,  36,  53,  86,  150,  162. 
Ontario,  149.  Superior,  131. 
See  also  Great  Lakes. 
Langlade,  Charles,  15,  150. 
Lancaster  (Pa.),  171,  191,  256. 
Lancaster  County  (Pa.),  144. 
Lancaster  County  (Va.),  12. 

La  Presentation.  See  Fort  Oswe- 
gatchie. 

La  Richardie,  P&re  de,  147. 

Lead  mines,  Chiswell,  155,  173. 
Lee,  Gen.  Charles,  145. 

Lee,  Francis  Lightfoot,  23. 

Lee,  Hancock,  153,  154. 

Lee,  Richard  Henry,  23. 

Lee,  Robert  E.,  10. 

Lee,  Thomas  Ludwell,  146. 

Lee,  Willis,  153,  154. 

Lee’s  Station  (Ky.),  175,  188. 
Leestown  (Ky.),  laid  out,  154. 
Lernoult,  Capt.  Richard  B.,  128, 
130,  147. 

Lewis,  Andrew,  39;  in  Dunmore’s 
War,  182,  204;  Indian  com¬ 

missioner,  20,  30,  34,  42,  81,  82, 
90,  100,  105,  112,  127;  speech,  75, 
76,  102. 

Lewis,  Mrs.  Andrew,  183. 

Lewis,  Thomas,  21,  24. 

Lewis  and  Clark  expedition,  128. 
Lewisburg  (Va.),  183,  184. 
Lexington  (Ky.),  154,  210,  227. 
Lexington  (Va.j,  10. 

Liberty  Hall.  See  Augusta  Acad¬ 
emy. 

Limestone  (Ky.),  206. 

Lincoln,  Mrs.  Abraham,  154. 
Lincoln  County  (Ky.),  170. 
Lindsay,  Joseph,  227. 

Linn,  Capt.  William,  expedition, 


226-229,  248 ;  arrives  with 

powder,  252,  253;  sketch,  144, 
145. 

Little  Carpenter,  Cherokee  In¬ 
dian,  2. 

Livingston  County  (N.  Y.),  161. 

Lochry,  Col.  Archibald,  200,  235 

Lockhart,  Capt.  — ,  168,  170. 

Lockhart,  Jacob,  182. 

Lockhart,  Patrick,  155,  156. 

Logan,  Indian  chief,  48,  49. 

Logan  County  (O.),  203. 

Logstown  (Pa.),  26,  65,  251. 

Lord,  Capt.  Hugh,  137,  141. 

Lorimier  (Laramie,  Lorimie), 
Peter,  144. 

Loudoun  County  (Va.),  234. 

Louisa  County  (Va.),  12. 

Louisburg,  siege,  134,  135. 

Louisville  (Ky.),  227,  232;  set¬ 
tled,  145.  See  also  Falls  of 
Ohio. 

Loup  Indians.  See  Mahican. 

Lynch,  Charles,  174. 

Macaster,  — ,  252. 

McBeath,  George,  150. 

McBride,  Roger,  250. 

McClain,  Daniel,  243. 

McClain,  John,  225. 

McClain,  Joseph,  225. 

McClean,  Charles,  224. 

McCleary,  Capt.  William,  235. 

McClelland’s  Station  (Ky.),  56, 
206. 

McClenechan  (McClanahan),  Capt. 
William,  169,  170. 

McClure,  Andrew,  230,  231. 

McClure,  David,  224,  234. 

McClure  family,  231. 

McConnell,  Adam  Baxter,  175,  176, 
188. 

McConnell,  Andrew,  175,  188. 

McConnell,  William,  176,  189. 

McConnell,  William  Barber,  175, 
176,  188. 


268 


INDEX 


McCulloch,  Maj.  Samuel,  234. 
McDonald,  Maj.  Angus,  expedi¬ 
tion,  145,  154,  231. 

McDowell,  Josiah,  182. 
McFarland,  Col.  Daniel,  234. 
McFarlane,  Andrew,  245. 
McIntosh,  Gen.  Lachlan,  expedi¬ 
tion,  231,  234. 

McKee,  Alexander,  74,  76,  152. 
McKee,  Capt.  William,  197 ;  let¬ 
ters,  204,  205,  214-216. 
McLaughlin,  — ,  245,  257. 
McMechen,  James,  225. 

McMechen,  William,  224. 

McNutt,  Joseph,  210,  213. 
McQuinney,  — ,  102. 

McTavish,  Simon,  150. 

Mackay,  Col.  Aeneas,  200,  201. 
Mackinac  (Michilimakinac,  Missi- 
limalkinak),  130,  134,  135,  150, 
151. 

Madison,  John,  25. 

Madison,  Capt.  Thomas,  169,  240. 
“Magdalen,”  British  ship,  11. 
Mahican  (Loup,  Mohegan)  In¬ 
dians,  62,  217 ;  town,  48. 
Mahican  John,  Delaware,  127-129. 
Malden  (Ont.),  75,  128. 
Mangagata,  Ottawa,  53. 

Marin,  Pierre  Joseph,  sieur,  151. 
Marion  County  (W.  Va.),  235. 
Martin,  Capt.  Joseph,  154. 
Maryland,  3,  144;  Journal,  250, 
253. 

Mascoutin  Indians,  3,  158. 
Mason,  George,  23,  146. 

Mason,  Samuel,  254,  255. 

Mason  County  (Ky.),  240. 
Massachusetts,  Revolution  in,  8, 
11-13.  See  also  Battles,  Con¬ 
cord  and  Lexington. 

Matthews,  Archer,  198,  209,  210. 
Matthews,  Elijah,  242. 

Matthews,  George,  198. 

Matthews,  Sampson,  198. 

May,  John,  174,  206. 


Meadville  (Pa.),  162. 

Menard,  Catharine,  148. 

Mercer,  James,  23. 

Mercer  County  (Ky.),  231. 

Mercer  County  (Pa.),  163,  231. 
Miami  (Tawixatwee,  Twigtwee) 
Indians,  3,  15,  56,  58,  115,  158, 
170,  171,  217. 

Michigan  Pioneer  and  Historical 
Collections,  127,  202. 

Milkman,  Shawnee  chief,  58. 
Milwaukee,  Indian  site,  199. 
Mingo  (Iroquois,  Seneca)  Indians, 
29,  39,  52,  66;  prisoners,  18,  19; 
towns,  37,  48,  56,  217 ;  message 
to,  74,  78,  79;  treat  with  Con¬ 
nolly,  35,  37;  at  treaty  of  1775, 
76,  80,  82,  85-87,  94;  speech  to, 
97;  pacific,  156,  188;  hostile,  15, 
49,  175,  176,  188,  199,  201,  210, 
212,  219,  251,  254;  sketch,  15. 
See  also  Iroquois,  Pluggy  and 
Seneca. 

Minor,  Capt.  John,  235. 
Mississippi,  governor,  254. 
Mitchell,  Edward,  213,  214. 
Moccasin  Gap,  2. 

Mohawk  Indians,  81,  171,  172. 
Mohegan  Indians.  See  Mahican. 
Monongahela  City  (Pa.),  228. 
Monongalia  County  (Va.),  234, 
235;  erected,  223;  officers,  230, 
234,  235,  238;  records,  235;  sur¬ 
veyor,  246. 

Montgomery,  John,  191. 
Montgomery,  Gen.  Richard,  132. 
Montgomery  County  (N.  Y.),  171. 
Montgomery  County  (Va.),  8,  11. 
Montour,  Andrew,  28. 

Montour,  John,  interpreter,  28, 
153,  202. 

Montreal,  24,  129,  132,  134,  137. 
Montressor,  Capt.  John,  150. 

Moor,  John,  214. 

Moorhead,  — ,  captured.  246. 
Moorhead,  Capt.  Samuel,  201,  246. 


INDEX  269 


Moravian  Missions,  38,  64,  202; 
towns,  44,  45.  See  also  Dela¬ 
ware  Indians. 

Morgan,  Gen.  Daniel,  183. 

Morgan,  David,  230. 

Morgan,  Evan,  31. 

Morgan,  George,  258;  at  treaty, 
31;  investigates  charges,  28;  In¬ 
dian  agent,  152,  159,  176,  237, 
238,  245;  letters,  158,  216,  217, 
252;  letters  to,  238,  247,  248;  in¬ 
formation,  188,  189,  246,  247 ; 
Indian  name,  32;  sketch,  31; 
portrait,  30. 

Morgan,  James,  230. 

Morgan,  Levi,  230. 

Morgan,  William,  251. 

Morgan,  Zackwell,  county  lieu¬ 
tenant,  235;  letters,  229,  230,  245, 
246,  252,  253,  257;  sketch,  230. 

Morgan  settlement,  234. 

Morgantown  (Va.),  230. 

Morganza  (Pa.),  estate,  32. 

Morris,  — ,  198. 

Morris,  Lewis,  commissioner,  23. 
24,  28,  30,  33,  82,  90;  speeches, 
76,  77,  82-84,  89,  93,  94;  letter  to, 
158;  sketch,  33;  portrait,  76. 

Morrisania  (N.  Y.),  estate,  33. 

Mount  Braddock  (Pa.),  232. 

Mount  Clemens  (Mich.),  203. 

Mountains:  Alleghanies,  252.  Blue 
Ridge,  11.  Flattop,  183.  Lau¬ 
rel  Hill,  18. 

Muchmore,  Jonathan,  250. 

Muchmore,  Shadrach,  250,  254. 

Muchmore  family,  254,  255. 

Munsee  Indians,  48,  88,  217. 

Munseeka.  See  Nimwha. 


Nashville  (Tenn.),  settled,  3. 
Nelson,  Thomas,  23. 

Neville,  Capt.  John,  22,  112,  113, 
125,  145,  237 ;  letters  to,  238, 
247-249,  252 ;  message  from,  204, 


205;  conference  with,  171,  172; 
sketch,  22. 

New  London  (Ct.),  149. 

New  Madrid  colony,  32. 

New  Martinsville  (W.  Va.),  208. 

New  Orleans,  177,  231-233,  235, 
253;  expedition,  144,  145,  226- 
229. 

New  Philadelphia  (O.),  45. 

New  Schoenbrunn  (O.),  45. 

New  York  Indians,  62;  news 
from,  215. 

Newau,  Shawnee  hostage,  39,  42, 
43,  57-59. 

Newcomer  (Netawatwes),  Dela¬ 
ware  chief,  38,  46. 

Newcomerstown,  45,  63. 

Newton,  J.  H.,  Panhandle  of 
West  Virginia,  217. 

Niagara,  portage,  132,  133,  147. 
See  also  Fort  Niagara. 

Nicholas,  Indian,  48. 

Nicholson,  Joseph,  176,  202. 

Nicholson,  Thomas,  80. 

Nicolas,  Wyandot  chief,  36,  218. 

Nimwha  (Munseeka),  Shawnee 
chief,  41;  speech,  121-123. 

Ninnis,  Ottawa,  53. 

Norfolk  (Va.),  139. 

North  Carolina,  1,  2,  176,  179. 

Northwest  Territory,  228. 

North  West  Company,  150. 


O’Bail,  John.  See  Cornplanter. 
O’Callaghan,  E.  B.,  New  York 
Colonial  Documents,  65,  246. 
Occam,  Samson,  62. 

Oconastota,  Cherokee  Indian,  2. 
O’Finn,  Philip,  -25. 

Ogden,  — ,  250,  254. 

Ogdensburgh  (N.  Y.),  132. 
Oguhaenjes.  See  Caldwell,  Col. 
John. 

O’Hara,  James,  242,  253. 

Ohio  Company,  154. 


270 


INDEX 


Ohio  County  (Va.),  196,  253; 

erected,  223;  officers,  232-234, 
236,  238,  239,  242,  244,  245. 

Old  Britain.  See  La  Demoiselle. 

Old  Callotte,  Wyandot,  128,  129. 

Oldtown  (Md.),  232. 

Olumpias,  Delaware  chief,  28. 

Onas,  Indian  appellation,  77. 

Orange  County  (Va.),  246. 

Oswego.  See  Fort  Oswego. 

“Ottawa,”  British  vessel,  127. 

Ottawa  (Taway)  Indians,  71,217; 
towns,  68;  treat  with  British, 
155 ;  speech  from,  53 ;  at  treaty 
of  1775,  80,  82,  85,  89,  92-94,  99, 
108,  110,  114,  116,  119;  speech  to, 
98;  with  Wyandot,  50-52 j  mes¬ 
sage,  56,  70,  101, 102;  interpreter, 
203;  hostile,  156,  190,  199,  210. 

Owasso  (Mich.),  201. 

Owen,  Capt.  David,  207. 

Oxen,  George,  17. 


Page,  John,  23,  146;  letters,  196, 
197,  247,  248. 

Paintsville  (Ky.),  14. 

Parkison,  Joseph,  228. 

Parr,  Stephen,  224. 

Patterson,  Robert,  210,  213. 

Patton,  Col.  James,  estate,  12. 

Pauling,  Henry,  174,  175. 

Paully,  Ensign  — ,  218. 

Pendergrass,  Garret,  43. 

Pendleton,  Edmund,  23,  167,  168. 

Penn,  William,  77. 

Pennsylvania,  governor,  13;  of¬ 
ficers,  18,  22;  traders,  41;  boun¬ 
dary,  18,  141;  Archives ,  19,  238, 
247 ;  Colonial  Records,  145 ; 
Gazette,  210;  Magazine  of  His¬ 
tory,  19;  Packet,  136,  176,  188, 
189. 

Pentecost,  Col.  Dorsey,  210,  217, 
230;  letters,  195,  196,  207. 
212-214,  218-221,  226-229;  county 


lieutenant,  200;  letter  to,  216; 
sketch,  27. 

Perry,  David,  210,  213. 

Perry,  Oliver  H.,  fleet,  151. 

Pheasant,  Delaware,  115. 

Pick  (Piet)  Indians,  branch  of 
Shawnee,  14-16,  56,  58. 

Pickaway  County  (O.),  63. 

Pickawillany,  captured,  15. 

Picquet,  Abbe,  131. 

Pigman,  Capt.  Jesse,  235. 

Piqua  (O.),  15. 

Pipe.  See  Captain  Pipe. 

Pittsburgh,  18,  20-23,  26-28,  32,  33, 
41,  45,  46,  74,  127,  129,  158,  175, 
189,  190,  198,  200,  202,  232,  254; 
powder  brought  to,  145 ;  expedi¬ 
tion  against,  158;  town  laid  out, 
231,  253.  See  also  Fort  Pitt. 

Pittsylvania  County  (Va.),  3. 

Pluggy,  Mohawk,  56,  205,  206; 
son,  102,  106. 

Pluggy’s  Town,  48,  56,  102,  201; 
expedition,  235-239,  247,  248. 

Pointe  de  Montreal,  147. 

Point  Pleasant  (W.  Va.),  garri¬ 
son,  4,  158,  176,  193,  194;  re-in- 
forced,  197;  Indians  leave,  198; 
settlers,  177,  184;  soldier  killed, 
210;  message,  205.  See  also 
Forts  Blair  and  Randolph. 

Pollock,  Oliver,  226. 

Pontiac’s  conspiracy,  27,  36,  38, 
41,  44,  80,  130,  131,  134,  147,  148, 
151,  162,  171,  201,  203,  218. 

Post,  Christian  Frederick,  27,  29, 

202. 

Potawatomi  Indians,  199. 

Potier,  Pierre,  147. 

Powell’s  Valley,  2,  153. 

Prairie  du  Chien  (Wis.),  150. 

Prescott,  Gen.  Richard,  132,  135. 

Preston,  Col.  William,  21,  24; 
surveyor,  4,  5;  county  lieuten¬ 
ant,  8,  14;  Home,  11;  letters,  1- 
6,  8,  9,  156,  157,  172-174;  letters 


INDEX 


271 


to,  7,  10-12,  153,  154,  174-176 ; 
sketch,  1. 

Prickett,  Capt.  Jacob,  235. 
Prickett,  Josiah,  235. 

Princeton  (N.  J.),  32. 

Princeton  College,  president,  200. 
Proctor,  Col.  John,  200. 

Purcell,  Francis,  225. 


Radcaff,  Stephen,  206. 

Ramsay,  J.  G.  M.,  Annals  of  Ten¬ 
nessee,  179. 

Randolph,  Peyton,  23,  35-38;  let¬ 
ter  to,  66,  67;  fort  named  for, 
185;  sketch,  66;  portrait,  66. 

Rawdon,  Lord  Francis.  135,  136. 

Ray,  William,  242. 

Reaume,  Hyacinthe,  148. 

Reaume,  Pierre,  148. 

Reaume,  Susanne,  44. 

Recollect  missionaries,  147,  148. 

Red  Banks  (Miss.),  255. 

Red  Jacket,  Seneca  chief,  160,  161, 
163;  speech,  165,  166;  portrait, 
164. 

Redstone  (Pa.),  229,  233. 

Rich,  Capt.  Jacob,  235. 

Richmond  (Va.),  66,  143,  153; 

convention  at,  8,  13. 

Rinhen,  William,  150. 

Rivers:  Allegheny,  27,  38,  39,  65, 
160,  162,  163,  200.  Arkansas,  248. 
Beaver,  202.  Bluestone,  183. 
Cheat,  229,  235,  254.  Cherokee 
— see  Tennessee.  Clinch,  5,  6. 
Cumberland,  1,  3,  144.  Cuya¬ 
hoga,  46,  68,  86,  201,  202.  De¬ 
troit,  62.  Floyd’s  Fork,  180. 
Gauley,  182.  Genessee,  161,  167. 
Great  Cacapon,  207.  Great  Ka¬ 
nawha,  6,  7,  17,  61,  68,  93,  101, 
103,  104,  106,  111,  158,  177,  182- 
184,  242 — see  also  New.  Great 
Miami — see  Miami.  Green  (Ky.), 
2.  Greenbrier,  182.  Hockhock- 
ing,  101,  105,  116,  206,  210,  213, 


217.  Holston,  153,  157,  168,  170, 
173,  175.  Hudson,  62,  215.  Kas- 
kaskia,  141.  Kentucky,  1-4,  61, 
63,  101,  102,  154,  175,  188,  227. 
James,  11,  156.  Levisa,  14. 
Licking  (Ky.),  186,  187,  323.  Lit¬ 
tle  Kanawha,  232,  242-244.  Ma- 
hican — see  Corcosan  Creek. 
Maumee,  56,  75.  Miami,  15,  60, 

144,  234.  Mississippi,  31,  32,  144, 

145,  177,  226-228,  248.  Mohawk, 
152,  172.  Monongahela,  167,  206, 
212,  228,  233-235,  251.  Mus¬ 
kingum,  46,  87,  101,  199.  New, 
169,  179,  180,  241 — see  also  Great 
Kanawha.  Niagara,  150.  Ohio, 
38,  50,  53,  59,  67,  74,  111,  117, 
202,  206,  207,  253;  lands,  1,  5; 
forks,  18,  171;  affluents,  6,  11; 
Indians,  140;  as  boundary,  61, 
87,  107,  112,  130,  156,  206,  219; 
guarded,  195,  246;  scouting,  208, 
211,  213,  231;  troops,  215,  240; 
expedition,  144,  145,  226,  228. 
Potomac,  203,  232,  234.  Roan¬ 
oke,  169.  St.  Lawrence,  81.  Salt 
(Ky.),  180.  Sandusky,  36,  46, 
80,  86,  143.  Sandy — see  Sandy 
Creek.  Scioto,  hi,  63,  81,  188, 
217,  218,  254.  Sorel,  134.  Sus¬ 
quehanna,  46.  Tennessee,  3,  6, 
63,  99,  109.  Tuscarawas,  45,  46, 
199.  Wabash,  3,  56,  80,  141, 158. 
Watauga,  1,  2,  173. 

Rives,  William  C.,  25. 

Rives,  Mrs.  William  C.,  Tale  of 
our  Ancestors,  25. 

Roads,  Wilderness,  2,  9. 
Robertson,  James,  3. 

Robinson,  Lieut.  — ,  205. 
Robinson  (Robertson),  Capt. 

James,  168,  169,  192. 

Robinson,  Capt.  John,  230,  231. 
Rocheblave,  Philippe  de.  141. 
Rockford,  Pennsylvania  estate, 
257. 

Rockingham  County  (Va.),  209. 


272 


INDEX 


Rogers,  Col.  David,  231-233,  236, 
239,  242. 

Rogers,  James,  70. 

Roosevelt,  Theodore,  Winning  of 
the  West ,  170. 

Ross,  Alexander,  143. 

Rotunda.  See  War  Post. 

Row,  Adam,  220,  225. 

Row,  Adam  Jr.,  225. 

Russell,  Col.  William,  167,  168, 
173,  175;  commandant,  5-7,  12, 
104 ;  letters,  12-17 ;  letter  to,  7 ; 
sketch,  1. 

St.  Clair,  Gen.  Arthur,  letters,  19, 
200;  expedition  of  1791,  41,  144, 
152,  230. 

Ste.  Genevieve  (Mo.),  143. 

St.  Joseph  (Mich.),  199. 

St.  Leger,  Barry,  expedition,  131. 

St.  Louis  (Mo.),  226,  232,  248. 

Saginaw  (Mich.),  201. 

Salem,  Moravian  town,  45. 

Salt  Licks,  Indian  town,  56. 

Sanders,  — ,  102. 

Sandusky,  towns,  55;  Indians,  91, 
92;  lower,  36;  upper,  50,  91;  ex¬ 
pedition,  231;  news  from,  218; 
sketch,  218.  See  also  Fort  and 
River  Sandusky. 

Sandwich  (Ont.),  41,  128,  147. 

Sault  Ste.  Marie  (Mich,  and  Ont.), 
131. 

Savannah.  See  Camp  Union. 

Schoharie  (N.  Y.),  raid,  159. 

Schonbrunn  (O.),  45. 

Schuyler,  Gen.  Philip,  24. 

Scott,  Charles,  22. 

Seneca  Indians,  treat  with  Eng¬ 
lish,  65,  67;  at  Fort  Pitt,  158- 
167,  172,  219;  villages,  161; 

chiefs,  160 ;  hostile,  158,  162. 
See  also  Iroquois  and  Mingo. 

Shade,  Shawnee  chief,  58,  60. 

Shaganaba,  Ottawa  chief,  89,  90. 

Sharpsburg  (Pa.),  27. 

Shawanese  Ben,  59. 


Shawnee  Indians,  35,  36,  39,  41,  51, 
52,  66,  111,  112,  128,  129,  174; 
towns,  15,  26,  36,  40,  42,  56,  57, 
63,  101,  123,  176,  188,  190,  254; 
hostages,  11,  18,  120,  122,  129- 
see  also  Chenusaw,  Cuttena, 
Newau;  apprehensive,  15,  16,  29; 
message  to,  70,  71;  at  treaty  of 

1775,  74,  80,  82,  85-87,  92,  94,  99, 

100,  108,  114,  116,  119-123 ; 

speeches  to,  41-43,  58-60,  62,  98, 
101;  agree  to  terms,  125;  return 
prisoners,  152,  175;  at  treaty  of 

1776,  158,  171,  217,  219;  pacific, 
156,  188,  204;  hostile,  190,  212, 
254;  join  raids,  63,  186,  189,  242; 
burn  prisoner,  252;  consulted, 
237 ;  removal,  144.  See  also 
Cornstalk,  and  Nimwha. 

Shelby,  Capt.  Evan,  179. 

Shenandoah  Valley,  11,  196. 

Shenango.  See  Logstown. 

Shepherd,  Col.  David,  commis¬ 
sary,  221,  224,  225,  228,  245,  253; 
county  lieutenant,  232-235,  252; 
commands  expedition,  238,  239; 
letters,  242-244;  letters  to,  195, 
196,  247,  248,  252;  sketch,  196. 

Shepherd,  Thomas,  196. 

Shepherdstown  (Va.),  196. 

Shingas,  Delaware  chief,  200. 

Shippensburgh  (Pa.),  61. 

Shores,  Thomas,  242. 

Silverheels,  Shawnee  chief,  41. 
r  Simms,  Col.  Charles,  153. 

Simple  (Simplicus  Bocquet),  Pfcre, 
147,  148. 

Simpson,  — ,  246. 

Six  Nations.  See  Iroquois. 

Skelton,  Joseph,  258. 

Smyth,  John  F.  D.,  138,  139. 

Snake,  Mingo  chief,  48. 

Snake,  Shawnee  chief,  58. 

South  Carolina,  governor,  138. 

Speed,  Thomas,  Wilderness  Road, 

2. 

Spotswood,  Alexander,  22. 


INDEX 


273 


Spottsylvania  County  (Va.),  246. 

Springer,  Drusilla,  230. 

Springhill,  Virginia  estate,  10,  12. 

Springhill  Township  (Pa.),  229. 

Steelman,  — ,  133. 

Steel,  Andrew,  226,  227. 

Stephen,  Col.  Adam,  6,  20;  letter, 
65;  Indian  commissioner,  30,  34; 
at  treaty  of  Fort  Pitt,  81,  82,  90, 
100,  105,  112,  127 ;  among  Shaw¬ 
nee,  103;  sketch,  6. 

Sterling,  James,  148,  149. 

Stilwell,  Samuel,  225. 

Stone,  Mingo  chief,  102. 

Stuart,  John,  British  Indian 
agent,  138. 

Stuart  (Stewart),  Capt.  John,  205, 
214;  militia  officer,  181,  192,  206; 
letters,  177,  178,  181-183,  193,  194, 
197-199,  239-241;  letters  to,  179, 
180,  184,  211,  212. 

Sullivan,  Gen.  John,  161. 

Sulpician  missionaries,  131. 

Surrahawa,  Wyandot,  52. 

Swearingen,  John,  229,  230. 

Swearingen,  Van,  201,  230. 


Tabb,  John,  23. 

Taimenend,  Morgan’s  Indian 
name,  32. 

Tate,  Samuel,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
9. 

Taway  Indians.  See  Ottawa. 
Tawixatwee  Indians.  See  Miami. 
Taylor,  Hancock,  154. 

Taylor,  Maj.  Henry,  233,  238,  239. 
Tays,  Thomas,  messenger,  12. 
Teagarden,  Abram,  235. 
Teagarden,  William,  235. 
Tecumseh,  birthplace,  63. 
Templeton,  James,  210,  213. 
Tennessee,  settlement,  3. 
Tetepuska,  Delaware,  126. 
Thompson,  Lieut.  — ,  197,  204,  241. 
Thompson,  William,  143. 
Thwaites,  R.  G.,  Daniel  Boone ,  2, 

18 


77;  Early  Western  Travels,  29; 
Jesuit  Relations ,  148  ;  Withers’s 
Chronicles ,  251. 

Tinkling  Spring,  church,  12. 

Todd,  John,  154 

Todd,  Levi,  154. 

Tomlinson,  Joseph,  224. 

Touraighwaghti.  See  Jehu  Hay. 

Tracy,  Alexander  de  Prouville, 
Marquis  de,  172. 

Transylvania  Company,  1-4;  leg¬ 
islature,  227. 

Treaties:  Bouquet’s  (1764),  27, 

38,  41,  80,  118,  124.  Camp  Char¬ 
lotte  (1774),  18,  34,  49,  106,  121, 
122.  Conestoga  (1718),  46.  Fort 
Harmar  (1789),  80,  159.  Fort 
McIntosh  (1785),  80.  Fort  Ni¬ 
agara  (1775),  65,  67-70.  Fort 
Oswego  (1777),  65,  159,  160.  Fort 
Stanwix  (1768),  5,  31,  53,  61,  99, 
171;  (1784),  159,  160.  Greenville 
(1795),  41,  80,  91.  Jay’s  (1794), 
132.  Lancaster  (1748),  124. 

Logstown  (1754),  171.  Paris 
(1783),  150.  Pittsburgh  (1775), 
25-127,  152.  British  report,  127- 
130,  135;  (1776),  46,  189,  191,  196. 
202,  206,  216-219.  Watauga 

(Sycamore  Shoals,  1775),  1-3. 

Trent,  Maj.  William,  171. 

Tucker,  William,  203. 

Tuscarawas  County  (O.),  45. 

Twigtwee  Indians.  See  Miami. 

Twitty,  Capt.  William,  9. 


Uniontown  (Pa.),  234. 
Urbana  (O.),  founded,  240. 


Van  Bibber,  Isaac,  177. 

Van  Bibber,  Jacob,  177. 

Van  Bibber,  John,  177. 

Van  Bibber,  Matthias,  177. 

Van  Bibber,  Peter,  177,  180,  182, 
193. 


2/4 


INDEX 


Van  Buren  (Pa.),  235. 

Van  Meter  family,  196. 

Vandalia  (Ill.),  228. 

Venango  County  (Pa.),  163. 

Vincennes  (Ind.),  128,  130,  136. 
149. 

Virgin,  Capt.  Reazin,  207. 

Virginia,  2,  83,  84;  boundary,  2, 
18,  141;  militia,  8,  9;  education 
in,  10 ;  religious  liberty,  215 ; 
convention,  21,  66,  67,  143,  153, 
155,  167,  168,  174;  assembly,  3, 
8,  13,  16,  18,  196,  206,  232,  234; 
council,  190,  230,  233,  236,  239, 
240;  endangered,  130;  buys 
lands,  53;  Kentucky  part  of,  4, 
8  ;  Gazette,  11 ;  House  Journal, 
3  ;  Magazine,  43  ;  State  Records, 
212. 

Waddell,  Rev.  James,  10,  12. 

Walapachakin,  Delaware  chief,  88. 

Walker,  Felix,  9. 

Walker,  John,  commissioner,  20, 
28-31,  34;  at  treaty,  81,  82,  90, 
100,  105;  speech,  94^100;  sketch, 
20. 

Walker,  Dr.  Thomas,  explores 
Kentucky,  2,  246;  home,  43;  de¬ 
scendants,  25;  Indian  commis¬ 
sioner,  20,  23,  24,  27,  30,  34,  39, 
42,  81,  82,  90,  100,  105,  112,  126, 
127;  speeches,  105-107,  110,  116- 
119,  122,  125,  135 ;  committee 
of  safety,  146 ;  commissioner 
(1776),  191. 

Wallace,  Andrew,  194,  198,  204. 

Walnut  Hills,  Virginia  estate,  234. 

War  Post  (Rotunda),  Wyandot 
chief,  51-55. 

Wars:  French  and  Indian  (1754- 
63),  4,  15,  20,  28,  36,  38,  56,  65, 
131,  134,  136,  148,  152,  173,  183, 
191,  200,  230.  King  George’s 
(1744-48),  171;  1812-15,  150,  151, 
159,  161.  See  also  Pontiac’s 
Conspiracy. 


Ward,  Edward,  171. 

Ward,  Capt.  James,  240. 

Ward,  John,  231. 

Ward,  Lieut.  William,  240. 

Warren  (Pa.),  160. 

Warren  County  (N.  J.),  144. 

Warrior  Ford,  180,  182,  198,  199. 

Washington,  George,  34;  in 
French  and  Indian  War,  22; 
visits  West,  5,  26-28,  162,  207 ; 
commander  of  Revolutionary 
Army,  143-145,  215,  249,  256;  ap¬ 
pointment,  78;  receives  chiefs, 
159,  161;  letter  to,  19;  donation, 
10. 

Washington,  Col.  William,  17. 

Washington  Academy.  See  Au¬ 
gusta  Academy. 

Washington  and  Lee  University, 

10. 

Washington  (Pa.),  233. 

Washington  County  (Pa.),  32,  207, 
228,  231,  233,  235. 

Washington  County  (Va.),  8. 

Wasson  (Owasso),  Chippewa 
chief,  201. 

Watauga,  settlement,  179. 

Wayne,  Gen.  Anthony,  campaign 
(1794),  41,  44,  75,  151,  233,  235, 
253. 

Weiser,  Conrad,  26,  28.  131. 

Wells,  Alexander,  218. 

Wells,  Richard,  218. 

Wernock,  James,  210,  213. 

West  Augusta  (Va.),  18,  22,  37, 
153,  200,  212,  232,  250;  commit¬ 
tee,  171;  captain,  146;  regiment, 
215,  250;  divided  into  counties, 
223. 

West  Virginia,  boundary,  6;  His¬ 
torical  Magazine,  183,  184,  196. 

Westmoreland  County  (Pa.),  18, 
61,'  74,  175,  176,  189,  200,  234. 

Wewelatimiha,  Shawnee,  120. 

Wheeling  (W.  Va.),  196;  garri¬ 
son,  13,  22,  214,  232,  242-244; 
stores,  252;  early  settlers,  203, 


INDEX 


275 


232;  depredations  near,  210,  217, 
250,  254.  See  also  Forts  Fin- 
castle  and  Henry. 

Whiskey  Rebellion  (1794),  22,  191, 
221,  228,  234,  253. 

White  Eyes,  Delaware  chief,  19, 
38,  61;  town,  45,  46,  63;  mes¬ 
sage  to,  71-74,  79,  80,  137 ;  at 
treaty,  82;  speeches,  40,  41,  84, 
85-89,  99,  100,  120,  121,  123-125; 
with  Wilson,  202-204. 

White  Mingo,  Seneca  chief,  27-33, 
39;  house,  67;  speeches,  40,  77; 
speeches  to,  77,  79;  sketch,  27. 

Whitefish,  Shawnee  chief,  103. 

Whiting,  Mary,  239. 

Wilkins,  Col.  John,  137. 

William  and  Mary  College,  238. 

Williams,  Benjamin,  159. 

Williams,  James,  224. 

Williams,  Jarret,  179. 

Williams,  John,  224. 

Williamsburgh  (Va.),  8,  11,  18,  35, 
40,  41,  126,  143,  146,  155,  180,  189, 
196,  209,  210,  214-216,  223,  232, 
236,  238,  239,  247. 

Williamsport.  See  Monongahela 
City. 

Willis,  George,  231. 

Wilson,  — .  239. 

Wilson,  James,  Indian  commis¬ 
sioner,  23,  24,  82,  90;  speech, 
77-79 ;  sketch,  77 ;  portrait,  90. 

Wilson,  William,  202,  203. 

Winchester  (Va.},  20,  22,  42,  43, 
65,  207,  255. 

Windsor  (Ont.),  44. 

Wingenund,  Delaware  chief,  46, 
126;  town,  202. 

Winston,  Alice,  7. 

Winston,  Dorothea  D.,  7. 

Winston,  Edmund,  letter,  7. 

Winston,  William,  7. 

Wirt,  William,  Letters  of  a  Brit¬ 
ish  Spy,  12. 


Wisconsin,  Indians,  15,  62;  fur- 
trade,  150;  Historical  Collec¬ 
tions,  127,  226. 

Wolf.  See  Cuttena. 

Wood,  James,  commissioner,  20, 
34,  81,  82,  90,  100,  105,  112,  127; 
visits  Indians,  34-66;  in  danger, 
49,  50;  investigates  charges,  28- 
31,  33;  rewarded,  67;  brings 
message,  27,  39;  diary,  25,  34- 
66;  sketch,  20. 

Woodford,  William,  21. 

Wright,  Lieut.  — ,  192. 

Wryneck,  Shawnee  chief,  41. 

Wyandot  (Huron,  Petun,  Tobac¬ 
co)  Indians,  towns,  36,  44,  50, 
53,  55,  56,  66,  143,  202,  203,  218; 
whites  among,  203;  language, 
130,  147;  divisions,  36,  218;  in¬ 
terpreter,  128;  treat  with  Eng¬ 
lish,  44,  47,  52,  54,  55,  155;  mes¬ 
sage  to,  39;  firm,  70,  101,  102; 
at  treaty  of  1775,  76,  80,  82,  85-87, 
92,  94,  108,  110,  113,  114,  116, 119, 
126;  speeches  to,  50,  51,  81,  82, 
97,  109;  respected,  130;  neutral, 
203;  hostile,  102,  106,  156,  199, 
201,  210,  219,  254;  not  at  treaty 
of  1776,  217 ;  sketch,  36. 

Wyoming  (Pa.),  raided,  152,  159- 
161. 

Wythe,  George,  23. 


Yeates,  Jasper,  191. 

Yohogania  County  (Va.),  171,  221; 
erected,  223,  226;  officers,  229, 
233,  238;  militia,  230. 

York  (Va.),  20. 

Yorktown  (Va.),  137. 


Zane,  Isaac,  203. 

Zanesville  (O.),  203. 
Zeisberger,  David,  45,  64,  202. 


Draper  Series 

A  series  of  volumes  wherein  are  published  for  the 
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Staff  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Society  will  be 
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Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 

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Documentary  History  of  Dunmore’s  War,  1774. 
Edited  by  Reuben  Gold  Thwaites,  LL.  D.,  and  Louise 
Phelps  Kellogg,  Ph.  D.  12  mo.,  pp.  xxviii-(-472.  Il¬ 
lustrated  by  maps  and  portraits.  Published  May,  1905. 

The  volume  gives  a  general  survey  of  Indian  affairs  on  the 
frontiers  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  in  1774,  culminating  in 
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The  Revolution  on  the  Upper  Ohio,  1775-1777. 
The  same  editors  as  for  Volume  I.  12  mo.,  pp. 
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forts  and  conducting  their  government,  they  at  the  same  time 
promoted  Western  settlement.  The  Treaty  of  Pittsburgh 
V 1775 )  and  other  Indian  negotiations  are  reported  at  length; 
and  the  relations  of  American  borderers  are  shown  with  the 
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Distribution,  the  same  as  Volume  I.  A  few  additional  copies 
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